Wild Secrets
By Frances Carleton
Wild SecretsApr 29, 2022
Debbie: Drones helping wildlife and the environment
Dr. Debbie Saunders started her career researching birds, that soon moved into a interest in the technology that could help track the birds in hard to access locations. Now she runs a business that helps scientists and volunteers from across the world. For more info: www.wildlifedrones.net
Rob: who doesn't love a Red Rump
Rob is an environmental graduate student based in Melbourne. His research project looking at the habitat requirements of the charismatic Red Rump Parrots coincided with a pandemic and extended lock-downs. We talked about how his project had to change direction and how he employed citizen science. Follow Rob on Twitter: robdashworth
Kristy: for the love of jumping spiders
Kristy is a marketing student and ex-nurse. Now her passion is spreading the love for jumping spiders and sharing what they can teach us. Follow Oods of Spoods on Instagram: www.instagram.com/oodsofspoods/
Sue and Steve: outback in the Bluebush
Sue and Steve run a shelter and rescue miles from anywhere. They candidly share the trails, highs and lows of working with wildlife off the beaten track. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/BluebushWRR
Peg: for the love of Raptors
Peg McDonald OM is the founder of the Higher Ground Raptors in NSW Southern HIghlands. With over 40 year working with wild she has a lot to say and share about these majestic birds and the amount it's taken to get to where they are today.
Jackie French: Living with wildlife
Jackie has been a beloved author and public presence in Australia for more than twenty years. We sat down with a dodgy Zoom link to talk about wombats and how living with wildlife has influenced her writing and life.
More info: www.jackiefrench.com/
Shane and Pauline: just batty
Pauline and Shane are based in South Australia and dedicate their lives to bats. It's rewarding, but sometimes it can absolutely break your heart.
find out more on Instagram: talkingbatty_education_team
Juleen: from Townsville to Tasmania
Juleen is a wildlife carer based on Tasmania. The wildlife down there is a little different but the learning curve to be a carer and issues don’t vary much from the mainland.
Dr Gavin: the academic approach
Dr Gavin Smith is a long way from his origins in Scotland. He finds himself living and working in Canberra as a full-time academic studying human nature and on the side studying the impacts of moving brown snakes from their habitats.
Nikki: a love affair with an old roo
Nikki is a wildlife shelter operator based in country Victoria. Hear her talk about dealing with the locals, human and otherwise, and how some are more welcoming than others.
Mathew: a life long love
Mathew is the founder of the Facebook Group Fast Snake Identification (Australia). Hear his talk about what drives him, surprising connections, and what's next.
Krysti: Relentless and rewarding
Based in Victoria, Krysti spends much of her day rescuing, euthanising, and raising orphan kangaroo joeys. While her work with roos gives her the chance to alleviate suffering of many, it also rewards her. You can find more on Facebook at @RescueRehabilitateRelease
Mary: the science of trauma
Mary is an EMDR therapist who has spent many years working with clients in trauma. Since making a tree change she has a new apprication of the mental health impacts faced by wildlife workers and carers.
Yolandi: Wonder of wombats
Yolandi has travelled far to get to were she is today but she believes she was put on this planet to do the work she does with wombats. This episode is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. You won't regret spending 45 minutes with Yolandi.
Bill and Lesley: Who'll looks after them when we're gone?
Lesley and Bill have committed their lives to wombats. They have taught their local community a little more respect for these delightful, character filled animals. Having made so many sacrifices, and having difficulties finding others with as much passion, they ask themselves the question...
Greg and Justine: Constantly Learning
The importance of constantly learning isn't lost on Greg and Justine. Their small, independently run Dimmocks Retreat Wildlife takes in animals from a wide radius of their home. Working closely with veterinary professionals, both locally and interstate, their mission is to provide the best care, every time, and that can only be done when you commit to learning how to treat every individual.
Judith Crispin: Honouring the Spirit
Judith Crispin is an artist that lives and works in the Canberra Region. She makes works using native and introduced species and during the process time of creating she feels they allow her a different insight into their lives, unseen by other eyes. A passionate and vocal advocate for wildlife and aboriginal people, this episode may touch on difficult topics for some.
Caroline and Peter: doing it all together
Caroline and Peter have been caring for animals for many years through thick and thin, fire and drought, laughter and tears. With hard work they have raised kangaroos, wombats, birds, and myriad of domestic animals...together.
Mandy and her desire to help
Mandy lives in suburban Sydney, she doesn't look after wildlife, but during and after the 2019/20 fires that swept the East Coast she knew she had to do something to help the carers. She just didn't immediately know what. Now she does!
Gill and caring for wildlife in suburbia
Gill is a carer based on the mid-north coast of NSW. A retiree she shares the lengths she went to to save animals and give them and lasting safe place.
Ally for the love of reptiles
Ally is based in the Canberra region, is originally from a much warmer climate in the US. She finds herself championing the limited, but fascinating reptiles in her adopted home through her volunteering and work.
Mark Pearson MP from animal liberation to Parliament House
Mark is a Animal Justice Party MP in the NSW government. He started his career as a psychiatric nurse and campaigner for animal rights. Now he is passionately challenging the law for all animals from a position that's unlikely to see him on the wrong side.
Rae and surviving Black Summer
Rae lives on the South Coast of NSW and lost her entire property to fire during the fires of 2019/20. This is her story. Warning: may be distressing to some listeners.
Michele and her passion for macropods
Michele and her husband grew up in the US and now live in rural NSW with their family. She volunteered for her local wildlife group to help save kangaroos (macropods) and other things with pouches that hop. t didn't end well for her.
Erna and a lifetime of working with wildlife
Erna Walraven wrote the book. Literally. The author of 'Care of Australian Wildlife: For Gardeners, Landholders and Wildlife Carers', started life in the Netherlands, before migrating to Australia and becoming a zookeeper. She shares interesting observations about we viewed animals then and now.