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Mammalwatching

Jon Hall & Charles Foley

Charles Foley and Jon Hall talk to mammalwatchers, biologists, conservationists and those with a passion for observing and protecting the world's wild mammals. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast.

Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 100 countries.

Produced and edited by José G. Martínez-Fonseca, mammalwatcher, photographer and wildlife biologist.

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S4 · E12
Sunday · 44 min
Fundación Jocotoco, Ecuador
Charles and Jon talk to Martin Schaefer, Jaime Palacios Pérez and John Rogers from Fundación Jocotoco about their ground breaking conservation work in Ecuador. Martin, Jaime and John talk about their roles within Jocotoco as, respectively, CEO, research scientist and board member. The three explain how important - and ambitious - the foundation's work is in Ecuador, where they now run 21 reserves with an aim to help protect an incredible 10% of the world's biodiversity over the next few years, including some of Ecuador's top mammal species from Jaguars to Brown-headed Spider Monkeys. And Jon is devastated to hear that a Pacarana - one of his most wanted mammals - used to be a regular visitor to a Jocotoco reserve's compost heap: used to be a regular visitor... Notes: Visit mammalwatching's Ecuador page for inspiration on mammalwatching in the country. Many trip reports include Jocotoco reserves such as Rio Canande Reserve and San Isidro (see Jon's 2021 report). Jon's trip report from Madagascar is here. A report from Charles's trip to Mexico will be ready soon. The podcast will return in late December with a holiday special. Please take a minute to complete this survey about becoming a contributing member of mammalwatching.com. You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Mountain Tapir by Nicolas Devon. Thank you to Ben Young III for editing this episode. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 120 countries.
S4 · E11
October 1 · 1 hr
African mole-rats with Kyle Finn
Charles and Jon get a glimpse into the fascinating world of African mole-rats with Kyle Finn, a Postdoctoral Fellow from Linnaeus University, Sweden and one of the world's foremost experts on this family of species. Kyle talks about his work studying Damaraland Mole-rats for his master's degree at the Kalahari Research Centre and then studying Natal Mole-rats in the Drakensberg for his PhD. He runs through many of the ways in which mole-rats are exceptional. They are exceptionally long-loved, immune to cancer and, with an ability to fight the aging process at a cellular level, may hold the secret to the fountain of youth. And two species live - like bees - in colonies with defined roles including a single reproducing queen, making them the world's only eusocial mammals. Kyle also shares some of his adventures from his time in the Kalahari including almost missing a Temminck's Ground Pangolin that he was convinced was an April Fool's Day prank. We start the episode by discussing whether feeding wildlife can ever benefit conservation. Jon also shares some recent travel highlights from a trip with Kyle across South Africa, that featured - of course - five mole-rat species, and 12 days in Kenya where he saw a stunning Mountain Bongo and a spectacular Welwitsch's Myotis. Notes: Jon's trip report from South Africa is here. And his Kenya report is here. Here is more on the 'Alexander' - Richard D Alexander - Kyle mentioned. "In 1974 he created a detailed model for a eusocial vertebrate, having no idea that a mammal with these characteristics actually existed. It turned out that his hypothetical eusocial rodent was a "perfect description" of the Naked Mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)." If you are interested in visiting South Africa in November 2027 with Jon and Kyle please write to mammalwatching@gmail.com. Here is a list of papers that discuss some of the issues around feeding wildlife. Please take a minute to complete this survey about becoming a contributing member of mammalwatching.com. You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Kyle and a Cape Mole-rat Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 120 countries.
S4 · E10
September 1 · 1 hr 10 min
Stratton Hatfield & Koen Betjes
Charles and Jon talk to Stratton Hatfield and Koen Betjes, two conservation researchers involved in a range of fascinating work in Africa. We cover a lot of ground from Giant Pangolin research in Kenya to the importance of taxonomy for conservation and mammal listing. The pair talk about how they have just - together with Charles - solved the mystery of a mysterious mongoose, a case worthy of Sherlock Holmes. And Stratton and Koen run through a set of mammal encounters guaranteed to send any mammalwatcher weak at the knees from close encounters with Allen's Swamp Monkeys and Mountain Bongos to having a bath with a Giant Otter Shrew! Notes: Stratton Hatfield grew up in Zimbabwe and moved to Kenya when he was 12. He spent his childhood exploring the African bush and now lives in the Netherlands where he's finishing is PhD at Wageningen University (on the foraging ecology of Martial Eagles in Kenya’s Maasai Mara). He continues to spend a great deal of time travelling throughout Africa working on wildlife research and guiding, with much of his current focus on conservation through his job with the BAND Foundation, supporting projects across southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. He is an avid fan of wildlife mysteries especially those related to cryptic diversity, biogeography and taxonomy. Koen Betjes studied wildlife management in the Netherlands and has since worked in some remote regions in Africa, including on Mandrills in southern Gabon, and biodiversity surveys south of Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also works with the Dutch evolutionary biologist and television presenter Freek Vonk on wildlife and conservation projects. Koen and Stratton are now working together in Kenya for the Pangolin Project, which works to protect Kenya's last remaining Giant Pangolins. Jon's trip report from Northeast Brazil is here. And here is some information on the Matto Grosso Primate Route. Here is information on the Lost Species Initiative we mentioned. Please take a minute to complete this survey about becoming a contributing member of mammalwatching.com. You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Jackson's Mongoose (camera trap), David Gulden. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S4 · E9
August 1 · 1 hr 2 min
Brett Hartl (Environmental Lawyer)
Charles and Jon talk to mammalwatcher and environmental lawyer Brett Hartl from his home in Prescott, Arizona. After beginning his working life as a ranger in Montana's Glacier National Park, Brett went to law school and now coordinates the Center for Biological Diversity's work on federal legislative issues that affect endangered species and other environmental concerns. Brett explains how - and why - he made the transition from a field biologist to environmental lawyer. He explains the process behind mounting a legal case, using Wolverine protection as an example. And he outlines the vital role mammalwatchers can play in helping environmental advocacy groups mount a legal case (see notes below). And Brett talks about some of his favorite mammalwatching adventures including bumping into a Wolverine in Montana and swimming with Blue Whales in Sri Lanka. At the start of the episode we get an update from Marc Bozon about progress to date on his 2026 Big Cat Year. You can read all about Marc's adventures, and his support for conservation, on his website including his encounter with the mythical Bornean Bay Cat. Notes: Brett explained that if any mammalwatcher has seen, tried to see, or has plans to see, a specific species then you could be key to mounting a legal case to protect a that animal, particularly for one of the more obscure mammals where it can be hard to find someone who would personally be harmed by that species' extinction. We, however, can legitimately explain why our hopes and dreams are in tatters if that particular vole or shrew were to disappear. So if you would like to help US environmental advocacy groups protect mammals, then consider becoming a member of one of the key groups fighting to protect US wildlife: the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, NRDC, and/or Wildearth Guardians. If you would like to be a standing declarant in particular, feel free to reach out to Brett at bhartl@biologicaldiversity.org and he will keep your contact information for future legal fights to better protect mammals under the law. You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Brett Hartl in the Central African Republic. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S4 · E8
July 1 · 52 min
Made in China
Charles and Jon compare notes from their recent trips to China, and talk the joys of travel there, especially the country's superb mammalwatching opportunities. Charles and his family spent 10 days in China's Qinghai Province in May, while Jon was in China for a month from mid-April, including almost two weeks in Yunnan Province and a few days in Qinghai. We discuss the Gouli Valley, and the extraordinary carnivore watching there, due in large part to a guide with superhuman vision. Charles has a close encounter with some Tibetan caterpillar connoisseurs and Jon discovers that seeing any species might be possible with the help of the right friends in China, especially when one is the 'mammal lord'. Notes: Jon's 2026 reports from China - Yunnan, Qinghai, Tangjiahe, Guangxi and Zhejiang - are already available on mammalwatching's China page. If you are interested in details of the tour he will lead across Qinghai next year, including to the original Valley of the Cats, please email. The study of Fishers predating Lynxes that Charles discussed at the start is here. If you would like to submit you own notes from the field then please get in touch with Jon at info@mammalwatching.com You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Pallas’s Cat in the Gouli Valley, February 2026. Photograph by Man Fu. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S4 · E7
June 1 · 59 min
Tom Butynski & Yvonne de Jong: Wild Solutions (Kenya)
Charles and Jon talk to conservationists and primatologists Tom Butynski and Yvonne de Jong from their base in Kenya. Tom and Yvonne run the East African Primate Diversity and Conservation Program and research primates and other mammals in East Africa. After explaining how their rural childhoods fostered a love for nature, Tom and Yvonne outline very varied career paths that took them around the world and eventually to Kenya - and each other - 25 years ago. They talk about the importance of citizen science and describe some of the work they are undertaking on a range of species, including the critically endangered Southern Patas Monkey. And they outline the process they have followed to describe the several new primate species and subspecies they have described. Charles is delighted to hear that if people looking for a new purpose in life then "dik-diks are the way to go", while Jon is shocked when Yvonne claims that she and Tom are not yet "as cool as the birders"! The episode begins with Charles and Jon taking about their March 2026 weekend in Florida featuring a Florida Mouse and a very lengthy wrong turn! Notes: Tom and Yvonne's Wild Solutions website is a goldmine of mammalwatching information, including some excellent free pocket guides to African primates, and a sound library of vocal profiles of many galago species (the calls of which are often indispensable to species identification). Jon and Charles's weekend in Florida report is here. If you would like to submit you own notes from the field then please get in touch with Jon at info@mammalwatching.com You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Tom & Yvonne in the field by Rick Strooper. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S4 · E6
May 1 · 57 min
Joel Sartore: The Photo Ark
Charles and Jon talk to Joel Sartore, founder of NatGeo's Photo Ark project and one of the world's most preeminent wildlife photographers. Joel describes his passion for conservation, a passion inspired by parents who cared and a childhood spent in nature. He outlines his career, which took him from a cub photographer with the Wichita Eagle, to National Geographic where he now runs the Photo Ark and has photographed more than 18,000 species in human care. Joel explains his photographic techniques and the influence of the artist John James Audubon. And he offers hope for the future, despite the extinction crisis we are facing, talking about how zoos and ecotourism are helping to save nature. Meanwhile Joel frightens Jon at the prospects of life "in the chocolate factory". Notes: You can follow Joel on Instagram, along with almost 2 million other people. There are many articles and videos about Joel online, including this PBS show Rare: Creatures of the Photo Ark about his work. Here's the article about the Banteng recovery in Thailand which Charles discusses at the beginning of the episode. You can find many Thailand trip reports here. If you would like to submit you own notes from the field then please get in touch with Jon at info@mammalwatching.com You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Portrait of Joel Sartore, 2021, by Ellen Sartore. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S4 · E5
April 1 · 1 hr 2 min
Nick Mcphee - Nick's Adventures Bolivia
Charles and Jon chat with Nick Mcphee, founder of Nick's Adventures Bolivia, from his home in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Nick explains how a childhood love of wildlife - inspired by growing up near Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo - led him to Bolivia after five years in the Australian army and another three working in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. He talks about the many - and exceptionally diverse - mammalwatching opportunities in Bolivia that range from what is arguably Latin America's best Jaguar watching through to mega-mammals like Chaco Peccaries, Giant Armadillos and Goeldi's Monkey. Plus Nick describes the many and diverse threats these animals are facing: threats that he is passionate about tackling through the ecotourism he is pioneering. Nick has more than his fair share of funny stories from running tours. We hear about the time that someone mistook a cup of vinegar for water. And we learn what can happen when a married couple turn up on a jungle trip with wildly differing expectations! The podcast opens with notes from the field from Jon's February trip to Guatemala and we chat about our 2023 visit to Klalik Village in West Papua that is now in the news. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: There are dozens of trip reports from tours with Nick's Adventures on mammalwatching's Bolivia page. Here's a report of Charles's 2023 trip with Nick to Jaguarland and Kaa Iya and this is Jon's report to Beni and Pando from 2024. You can follow Nick on Facebook and Instagram. This is his listing on mammalwatching. Jon's trip report from Guatemala is here (a research tour led by former podcast guest José Gabriel Martinez-Fonseca). Here's a fun Instagram reel about our visit to Klalik and the scientific and conservation impacts that one night in that forest created. If you haven't heard our podcast episode about that trip then it is one of our most popular. If you would like to submit you own notes from the field then please get in touch with Jon at info@mammalwatching.com You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here. https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Nick rescues a sloth Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City.
S4 · E4
March 1 · 1 hr 6 min
Mammalwatching: The Next Generation
Charles and Jon turn the podcast over to three of the youngest mammalwatchers we know: Ellen Linton (20), Bruno Kovacs Gomez (16) and Moses Swanson-Mwamasika (15). In a lively chat the three share stories about their passion, why they love it and what their friends and family think. We hear stories about pizza with a Caracal in South Africa; close encounters with pouched rats in Zimbabwe; and a quest for a Golden Jackal in Hungary. The next generation also offer advice on how to encourage friends to join a trip. So press play if you want to learn how to sneakily turn a road trip with your bestie into a pocket gopher safari or are contemplating more extreme measures ... The podcast starts with 'notes from the field' from Jannico Kelk and Nicolas Rakotopare, recorded live in Darjeeling moments after a spectacular Red Panda encounter. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: All three of our guests have submitted several reports to mammalwatching. See for instance Ellen's road trip through Oregon and Idaho; Moses's goodbye to Zimbabwe report; and Bruno's family trip through Corfu, Vienna and Hungary. Download Scythebill to manage your mammal list here https://www.scythebill.comhttps://www.scythebill.com You can find wildlife filmmaker Nicolas Rakotopare and wildlife photographer Jannico Kelk on Instagram. Their notes from the field was recorded on a scouting trip for their upcoming Red Panda photo safaris. If you would like to submit you own notes from the field then please get in touch with Jon at info@mammalwatching.com You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: The Next Generation Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S4 · E3
February 1 · 45 min
Adventures in Argentina & Tales from Tanzania
Charles and Jon don't have a guest this month. Instead we talk to each about our recent trips to southern Tanzania (Charles) and Tierra del Fuego (Jon). Charles's adventure coincided with the Tanzanian elections and an outbreak of protests. These may have shut down the country but did not deter its mammalwatchers! In between negotiating their way through road blocks and buying diesel from trucks stuck on the road, they managed to see a ridiculous number of mammal species (almost 80) including the Kipunji, a primate only discovered by scientists a few years ago. Jon's trip through Patagonia went more smoothly. The highlight was a day looking for Leopard Seals in a remote area of Chilean Tierra del Fuego. He had crippling views of the seal amongst jaw dropping scenery. One of his best days ever. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: Charles's report is here https://www.mammalwatching.com/community-post/rare-mammals-and-riots-in-southern-tanzania/ . He organized his tour through African Pangolin Safaris. The owner, guide, and all round troubleshooter, Mansoor Mohamed can be reached at info@africanpangolinsafaris.com. Learn more about the discovery of the Kipunji in Season 1 Episode 4 of this podcast when we talk to Tim Davenport. Jon's Patagonia report is at https://www.mammalwatching.com/community-post/patagonia-buenos-aires-province-december-2025/. He organized his trip with Marcelo Gavensky from Birds Argentina, also a former podcast guest. If you interested in joining Jon's trips to Brazil or Antarctica the details are here NE Brazil for primates and porcupines with Jon Hall & Regina Ribeiro, May 27 – June 8 2026 Antarctica with Jon Hall & Naturetrek, January 2027 And if you want to support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee please do! https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/ Cover art: Leopard Seal, Jon Hall. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S4 · E2
January 1 · 56 min
Episode 2: János Oláh
In the first podcast of 2026 we talk with professional bird and mammal guide János Oláh from his home in Hungary. János set up Sakertours in 1994. Initially focussing on birding tours in Eastern Europe they expanded to run hide-based photography tours and now mammal tours. János explains how he was drawn to birding as a child, and the formative role an aversion to summer camp chores played in the process. He describes how and why he set up his Romania Mammal Tour, on which participants can expect to see over 50 mammal species in 9 days! And he shares a very important life lesson he learned as a boy while looking for a 'Dawn Bird': preferred habitat is far more useful to a successful search than a species' common name! The podcast begins with a 'live from the field' account of our heroically unsuccessful search for a Sumatran Striped Rabbit, which János was lucky enough to be a part of. You can stream the episode here or listen on your favourite podcast platform. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: Here is the most recent Romania Mammal Tour report from Sakertours. Details of the 2026 tour and how to join are here. Other Sakertours reports are on mammalwatching's Romania page including the 2025 Mole-rat safari we talked about. A report of our ill-fated trip in search of Sumatran Striped Rabbits is here. Cover art: János in Ladakh. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S4 · E1
Dec 1, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
Episode 1: Expedition to Sulawesi
The Season 4 opener to the mammalwatching podcast has Charles and Jon talking about their September 2025 expedition to Sulawesi. This is a blow by blow - and mammal by mammal - account of a remarkable two week trip that recorded over 80 mammal species. Our story is interspersed with interviews from the field with Carlos Bocos, the trip leader; bat guru Prof Juliana Senawi; and the other participants (Stuart Chapman, Nick Cox, János Oláh, Martin Royle and Ian Thompson). We also include a conversation witth Ating Solihin from Sulawesi's Malenge Island about his role in bringing the Togean Babirusa back from the brink of extinction. Highlights include: Explaining why the initial excitement of seeing species that were likely new to science quickly turned to frustration. Hearing why giving a seven year old a mammal book might just dictate the rest of their life. Advice for others planning to visit Sulawesi, including the importance of bringing your own sleeping mats and never wearing flip flops into a bat cave! You can stream the episode here or listen on your favourite podcast platform. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: The trip report from our expedition to Sulawesi should be available here by the end of 2025. Cover art: Togean Babirusa, Carlos Bocos Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S3 · E18
Sep 2, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
Episode 18: Nachiket Kelkar & Kadambari Deshpande (India)
Charles and Jon speak to conservation power couple Nachiket Kelkar and Kadambari Deshpande from their home in Bangalore. for the finale to Season 3 of the podcast. Kadambari and Nachiket both work to better understand how wildlife and people can co-exist in India, with Kadambari focussing on bats and Nachiket looking at riverine ecosystems and wildlife including the Ganges River Dolphin. In a fascinating interview they discuss some of the threats facing the species they are working to protect as well as some of the facets of Indian society - and its sometimes striking tolerance for living alongside wildlife - that help to allow wildlife and people to co-exist. They describe a recent trip in search with Bob Pitman (a 2022 podcast guest) in search of India's remaining two Indus River Dolphins and also explain how Indian Flying Foxes are a cashew-farmer's best friend! For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: Jon's recent Borneo trip report - during which a few seconds birding almost cost him his binoculars - is here: Details of the IUCN-approved splitting of the Giraffe into four species is here. Cover art: Kadambari & Nachiket Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.
S3 · E17
Jul 31, 2025 · 43 min
Episode 17: African Golden Cat researcher Laila Bahaa-el-din
Charles and Jon talk with carnivore conservation expert Laila Bahaa-el-din. Laila studied the near mythical African Golden Cat for her PhD in Gabon from 2010 - 2015 and was the first to study the species for a PhD. She explains how her grandfather inspired her to follow a career in conservation and how a chance encounter with a mislabeled photo of an African Golden Cat saved her from studying raptors and took her to Gabon. Laila describes how she studied the cats using camera traps and how a bird flying into a tent led to her one and only sighting during four years in the field. She also recounts some of her very many adventures in Gabon that range from pleading with a female gorilla to keep quiet so as not to alert the silverback, to fleeing from an elephant while trying to get out of a poncho. No wonder she turned to poetry for solace! For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: Here is an African Geographic artlce from Laila about her work with the Golden Cat. And here is the video she mentioned of an African Golden Cat hunting Red Colobus in Uganda. Jon's report of his recent trip to Japan in search of Sato's Beaked Whales is here. And hs report of a weekend in China is here. Cover art: African Golden Cat, Laila Bahaa-el-din Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.
Jul 1, 2025 · 1 hr
Episode 16: Nigel Marven
Charles and Jon talk with wildlife filmmaker and presenter Nigel Marven from his home in the UK. Nigel describes how a childhood fascination with wildlife led to his first job in TV, 'wrangling worms', and from there to working with Sir David Attenborough and ultimately presenting and making his own shows and films. He explains why his films have often put the spotlight onto smaller, less well-known but fascinating mammals including Russian Desmans, Chinese Mole-shrews and Star-nosed Moles. And he describes some of his most memorable mammal encounters from Bactrian Camels in China to swimming with Belugas in the Canadian Arctic. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: Details of Nigel's forthcoming wildlife tours are on his website. You can read more about his trip to Madagascar here. This is the article about the discovery of Leadbeater's Possum in New South Wales that Charles talked about. Jon encouraged listeners to visit mammalwatching.com's Join a Trip page. More details on the two trips he is helping to convene are here: Primates and Porcupines in Northeast Brazil, May 2026 Mammalwatching Cruise to Antarctica, January 2027 Cover art: Nigel Marven Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.
S3 · E15
Jun 1, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Episode 15: Rachel Ashegbofe Ikemeh, Nigeria
Charles and Jon talk with Rachel Ashegbofe Ikemeh, founder of the SW/Niger Delta Conservation Project. Rachel, a Nigerian conservationist and visionary, has built a team of almost 100 people working at the grassroots community level to save the wildlife of the Niger Delta. The delta, densely populated and home to oil and gas reserves, is one of the most degraded environments on the planet. It contains over half of the swamp forest in West and Central Africa and is the world's largest mangrove forest. But 95% of that forest has been lost in the past 15 years. Rachel describes her career and how she stumbled into conservation work despite the many obstacles she faced from a society where young women are expected to get married and have children and definitely not become biologists! She talks about some of the delta's many special mammals including critically endangered primates like the the Niger Delta Red Colobus that Rachel's team is bringing back from the brink of extinction with the help of local communities. And Rachel talks about some of the very many dangers she has faced working in this difficult area. She has run the gauntlet of everything from death threats to drowning and also had a very close encounter with an angry Elephant. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: You can follow Rachel's team on Instagram here. And here is a short video, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, celebrating Rachel as a winner of the 2020 Whitley Awards for her work with Chimpanzees. This is the opinion piece Rachel wrote on the Western media's role in the decline of West Africa's Wildlife. Jon's Texas report is here. Cover art: Rachel at work. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.
S3 · E14
May 10, 2025 · 52 min
Episode 14: Shavez Cheema, Borneo
Charles and Jon talk to Shavez Cheema, founder of Borneo1Stop Wildlife, from his home in Sabah. Shavez talks about a childhood in Brunei surrounded by wildlife and how, at the age of nine, he was inspired to work in conservation after seeing a neighbour's senseless killing of a monitor lizard. We discuss the massive potential for growth in conservation tourism across Borneo, and both the benefits and problems it might create. And Shavez explains why Borneo1Stop Wildlife is committed to opening up new mammalwatching areas and what visitors can expect from them. Any conversation about Borneo will feature some premier league mammals. Shavez's favorite moments include an unexpected encounter with a Tufted Ground Squirrel and walk away views of a Clouded Leopard. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: More details of Borneo1Stop Wildlife's destinations in Tawau Hills, Beluran and INIKEA are here. And this is a report of a 2024 bat photography workshop. There are many many Borneo trip reports on mammalwatching. The jaw-dropping photographs from the migration in South Sudan that Charles mentioned were part of the media pack accompanying this African Parks press release. Check out this extraordinary image! Jon's Romania mole-rat safari report is here. Cover art: Walk away views of a Clouded Leopard, Shavez Cheema. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.
S3 · E13
Apr 7, 2025 · 50 min
Episode 13: Venkat Sankar & Nicole Haseley's Big California Year
Charles and Jon talk with mammalwatching power couple Venkat Sankar & Nicole Haseley from their base at Stanford University in California. Nicole and Venkat 'accidentally' turned 2024 into a Big California (Mammal) Year and ended up seeing a record breaking 150 species in the state by December 31. They talk about some of their big year's highs and lows as well as their favourite places in California to mammalwatch, and offer advice on how to identify small mammals in the field. Plus Nicole explains why browsing iNaturalist pictures in public can be a fast track to romance. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: a Big Year - a concept well known among birders - sees participants look for as many different species as possible within a geographic boundary (in this case California). Venkat and Nicole's Big Year report is here (there are many more California reports here). Meanwhile Charles's epic 2019 Big Mammal Day report from Tanzania is well worth a read! A report from Charles's Royle Safaris' trip to Ghana will eventually arrive here. The ethical mammalwatching cartoons Jon mentioned are here. Cover art: Venkat & Nicole Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.
S3 · E12
Mar 9, 2025 · 58 min
Episode 12: Sid Francis, China
Charles and Jon talk to legendary mammal guide Sid Francis from his home in Sichuan. Sid runs through a career as geographically diverse as it is professionally. After studying agriculture in the UK he worked as - among other things - a shepherd in the Falkland Islands shepherd and a school teacher in Denmark before moving to China and becoming a wildlife guide. We talk about how much China - and the public's interest in wildlife there - has changed over the past few years. Sid describes the current mammalwatching scene in Sichuan and Qinghai Provinces, both packed with a set of mouthwatering mammals. And in a world exclusive we learn that mammalwatchers are almost 'normal' ... at least compared to some birders! For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: You can contact Sid at chengduuk@hotmail.com or through his website https://sichuanbirding.cloudaccess.net/. There are dozens or reports from Sichuan and Qinghai on mammalwatching's China page https://www.mammalwatching.com/gd_place/china/ Charles and Jon spoke about their trip to Sax-Zim Bog: a report is here. There are several reviews of thermal scopes at the bottom of the mammalwatching gear page. Cover art: Sid Francis. Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.
S3 · E11
Feb 1, 2025 · 57 min
Episode 11: The Horn of Africa
In the first episode of 2025 Charles and Jon talk about their December 2024 trip to Ethiopia's Somali Region and Djibouti. From Dik-diks to Dibatags we discuss some of the rare mammals we encountered along with spectacular species like the poison-covered Crested Rat. We describe the agony of arriving in a camp that looked like the set from a slasher movie, to the ecstasy of taking what appear to be the first ever photos there of a live Abyssinian Genet. And we reveal how we faced up to one of our darkest fears: dinner in a Djibouti seafood restaurant. For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcast Notes: Our trip report from the Somali Region is here. The Djibouti report will be available soon on Djibouti page. Cover art: Crested Rat, Jon Hall Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 110 countries.

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