S7 E10: AI — Fake Nature, Real Consequences

S7 E10: AI — Fake Nature, Real Consequences

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms media, journalists and conservationists are confronting a new and unsettling reality: What happens when we can no longer trust what we see in nature documentaries and wildlife photography?  This week WCS speaks with Rhett Butler, Founder and CEO of Mongabay, about how AI-generated wildlife imagery is beginning to reshape conservation journalism, and why the stakes may be much higher than they first appear.  Reporting: Hannah Kaplan Guest: Rhett Butler

From Radiolab and WNYC: "Terrestrials" | E40 BIG CATS: Lions, Tigers & Roars (Oh My!)

This week on WCS Wild Audio, we’re taking a short break from our usual programming to share an episode from another show we absolutely love. It comes to us from our friends at Terrestrials — the wildly inventive family science podcast from Radiolab and WNYC. Terrestrials explores some of the strangest and most fascinating creatures on Earth. And in today’s episode, host Lulu Miller and producers Ana Gonzalez and SongBud Alan Goffinski set out on a mission to discover everything about big cats.  Along the way, they visit the Bronx Zoo with WCS’s own Luke Hunter to meet endangered tigers and lions, compare the roars of the world’s most iconic felines, and discover that even the fiercest predators on Earth can cough up furballs, play with their siblings, and care deeply for their families. It’s funny, smart, weird, and full of wonder—and if you enjoy what you hear, be sure to check out more episodes of Terrestrials wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back next week with a new episode of WCS Wild Audio.  * * * Terrestrials was created by Lulu Miller with WNYC studios. This episode was produced by Alan Goffinski and Ana González, with sound design by Mira Burt-Wintonick. Sarah Sandbach is the Executive Producer. The team also includes Tanya Chawla, Natalia Ramirez, and Joe Plourde. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. https://link.podtrac.com/TerrFeed [https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/X8TqCxk5K4C2lLZPC8fVUyWKqI]

S7 E9: Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the American Bison as the U.S. National Mammal

This week, as we mark the 10th anniversary of the National Bison Legacy Act, WCS Wild Audio revisits its report on how extraordinary partnerships across geography, culture, and politics helped make the American bison our national mammal. Looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of American independence this July, there can be no better time to reflect on the bison as both a symbol of our shared past and a reminder of our responsibility to protect the wildlife, landscapes, and cultural legacies that define us.  Reporting: Nat Moss Guests: John Calvelli, Keith Aune, Dave Carter, Jim Stone

S7 E8: WCS’s Career Lattice Education Program Is Opening New Doors

Each year, the WCS Career Lattice supports over 1,900 youth ages 14 to 24 in volunteer, internship, and employment opportunities across its five parks in New York City. It’s helping young people turn early opportunities into meaningful careers, as they develop skills, find mentorship opportunities, and gain valuable experience. Reporting: Dan Rosen Guests: Reiariel Garcia, Yvonne Bennett, John Calvelli

S7 E7: A New Biography Captures Conservation Luminary Dr. George Schaller

George Schaller is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern field biology — a scientist whose work helped transform how we study animals in the wild. From gorillas in the Congo to snow leopards in the Himalayas, his research has shaped conservation for decades. This week, WCS Wild Audio caught up with author Miriam Horn to discuss her new biography of Schaller, Homesick for a World Unknown, and the legacy of a life spent observing wildlife. Reporting: Nat Moss Guest: Miriam Horn