Happy New Year! Today Jack looks back on all of the year’s best conservation stories. That means we get to talk about everything from Redwoods to Manta Rays, from Echidnas to Puffins!

Jack also discusses his personal highs and lows, makes some New Year’s Resolutions and reflects on what he wants to see in 2024!

Thank you so much for an amazing 2023! ✨

Useful Links

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Make sure to follow Connor & Steph's Podcast, 'Plenty Plenty Zoo Zoo', and follow Alicia Hayden on socials for amazing wildlife art!

We discussed so many stories today, that they cannot all be added here. However, check out a selection below:

Birds in Bangladesh: https://news.mongabay.com/2023/01/birds-in-bangladesh-find-a-new-lease-of-life-in-community-run-sanctuaries/
Mantas: https://www.scubadiving.com/worlds-largest-known-manta-ray-population-found-off-ecuador
Hairy Nosed Wombat: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-28/wombat-population-boom-nullarbor-roads-drought-break/101795134
Western Monarch Butterflies: https://news.mongabay.com/2023/01/monarch-populations-rebound-but-its-still-a-long-journey-to-recovery/
ZSL Dogs: https://biaza.org.uk/news/detail/british-dog-duo-ready-to-start-new-role-protecting-critically-endangered-pangolins-in-thailand-with-conservation-charity-zsl
Mediterranean Monk Seal: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/mediterranean-monk-seal-making-comeback-180981811/
Puffins: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65122131
Platypus: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/platypus-returns-australian-national-park-first-time-half-century-rcna84390
Eco-Tourism and Grey Whales: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/up-close-ecotourism-is-bringing-back-mexicos-gray-whales/
Wildcats: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65913889
Black Veined White Butterfly: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65804939.amp
Mexico’s protected areas: https://news.mongabay.com/2023/08/mexico-announces-13-new-protected-areas-with-more-to-come/
Ospreys: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Ospreys_breed_in_Ireland_for_first_time_for_more_than_200years.aspx?s_id=1053305723
Takahe: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/29/prehistoric-bird-once-thought-extinct-returns-to-new-zealand-wild
Snow Leopard: https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-11-09-23-18-09-23/
Rhino Numbers Rebound: https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-25-09-23-02-10-23/
Caribbean Island Sanctuary: https://www.rewild.org/press/rejuvenated-caribbean-moonscape-island-granted-protected-area-status
Galapagos Giant Tortoise: https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-08-10-23-15-10-23/
Salmon: https://riverdee.org.uk/news/river-dee-revived-after-one-of-scotlands-biggest-ever-dam-removals/
New Forest Guardians - https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-6-11-23-12-11-23/
Attenborough’s Long Beaked Echidna: https://www.biology.ox.ac.uk/article/found-at-last-critically-endangered-echidna-finally-rediscovered-after-60-years
Shepard’s in Spain Learning: https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-12-11-23-19-11-23/
California Redwoods: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/california-redwoods-wildfire-recovery-new-growth/

Music Credits: Monkoto by Kevin MacLeod, Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4072-monkoto License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ AngloZulu by Kevin MacLeod, Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3372-anglozulu License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Christmas Rap" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠ "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

4. The World's Most Trafficked Mammal (The Plight of the Pangolin)

Pangolin: The Conservation PodcastBy Jack BakerDec 15, 2020