As a child growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe, Mikey Hensman was surrounded by rescued exotic animals like elephants, impalas, and warthogs. This unique upbringing sparked his deep passion for wildlife that eventually led him to a career in anti-poaching and conservation. Hensman is the co-founder of Resolve Wildlife, an African-led strategic advisory and training group dedicated to conserving Africa's wild landscapes. Resolve Wildlife's team includes experts in protected area management, ecology, law enforcement, and community-based resource management. One of their key conservation partners, Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ), is a non-profit organization working to protect Zambia’s Lower Zambezi region. CLZ collaborates with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) to conduct foot and aerial patrols, as well as operate specialized enforcement units, including the highly effective Dog Unit.
Introduced in 2016 with support from USAID, the Dog Unit plays a vital role in combating poaching and wildlife trafficking. Trained to detect scents of ammunition, bushmeat, ivory, pangolin, and firearms, these skilled sniffer dogs and their local handlers conduct vehicle searches at checkpoints and assist with tracking operations. Their efforts have resulted in numerous arrests and significant recoveries of illegal wildlife products, including over 175 kilograms of bushmeat and multiple firearms. Looking ahead, the program aims to expand the dogs' detection capabilities to include rhino horn and Zambia’s rare Mukula wood, further strengthening anti-poaching efforts in the region.
Show Notes:
00:03:46 - From Polo to Elephant Training: A Family's Journey
00:07:09 - Elephant Conservation and Canine Anti-Poaching Programs
00:10:16 - Detection and Tracking: Canine Anti-Poaching Capabilities
00:12:23 - Challenges of Conservation Dog Training in Africa
00:18:42 - Patrolling the Periphery: Combating Poaching in Africa
00:21:14 - Encounters with Poachers in the Miombo Woodland
00:24:23 - Tracking Poachers Through Rugged Terrain
00:27:28 - Tracking Animals for Conservation
00:30:51 - Protecting Wildlife and Communities in Lower Zambezi
00:34:41 - Protecting the Zambezi River and Wildlife
00:36:18 - Promoting Environmental Education and Community Empowerment
#travelpodcast #adventurepodcast #conservationpodcast #podcast #conservation #storytelling #adventure #travel #traillesstraveled #adventuretravel #zambia #resolvewildlife #lowerzambezi #conservationlowerzambezi #elephantconservation #dogtraining #antipoaching #k9training
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.