The Think Wildlife Podcast

In this powerful episode of the Think Wildlife Podcast, we are joined by Meenal Tatpati, a leading researcher and advocate for forest rights, indigenous knowledge, and democratic conservation. Together, we explore the transformative impact of the Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA 2006) and challenge the outdated logic of fortress conservation.

Meenal explains how the forest rights act of 2006 recognizes the historical injustice faced by f...

In this inspiring episode of the Think Wildlife Podcast, we welcome Aviram Rozin, founder of Sadhana Forest, a globally respected movement dedicated to reforestation, sustainable development, and nature-based solutions. What started in 2003 as a family’s dream to revive degraded land in Tamil Nadu has evolved into an international model for ecological restoration and community-led change.

With over 70 acres of tropical dry evergreen...

In this fascinating episode of the Think Wildlife Podcast, we dive into the groundbreaking work of Project Dhvani, a pioneering conservation initiative using bioacoustics to revolutionize how we understand and manage biodiversity in India’s tropical landscapes. Host Anish sits down with Dr. Vijay Ramesh, co-founder of Project Dhvani, to discuss how animal vocalization and animal sounds captured through passive remote sensing can re...

In this deeply enriching episode of the Think Wildlife Podcast, we delve into the transformative journey of Trishala Ashok—an award-winning jewelry designer turned conservation filmmaker and founder of True Story Media Productions LLP. Through an inspiring and heartfelt conversation, Trishala takes us on a voyage that beautifully bridges creativity and science, forging a path that is not just about capturing wildlife through the le...

Welcome to this insightful episode of Think Wildlife Podcast, where we delve deep into the pressing issues of human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, and conservation efforts in Africa. In this episode, we speak with Maurice Schutgens, Managing Director of Conservation at Space for Giants, an organization dedicated to preserving Africa’s iconic megafauna and landscapes.

We explore the complex dynamics of human-elephant conf...

In this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, we dive into the dynamic intersection of conservation, climate finance, and community-driven solutions with Mike Korchinsky, the founder and president of Wildlife Works. Our conversation explores how market-based mechanisms such as carbon credits and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) are revolutionizing the way we approach wildlife conservation, fores...

In this insightful and action-driven episode, we welcome Oliver Bolton, CEO and co-founder of Earthly, a pioneering startup dedicated to protecting and regenerating more than 1% of the planet by 2030. Earthly provides businesses with a trustworthy, high-impact way to invest in nature-based climate solutions that drive carbon reduction, biodiversity restoration, and social impact.

Throughout the episode, Oliver explains how Earthly o...

Join host Anish in this insightful episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast as he sits down with Dr. Nick Askew, the founder of Conservation Careers. Discover how Dr. Askew’s passion for wildlife, from his early days as a teenage angler to his impactful global conservation career has led to helping over 700,000 conservationists worldwide.

In this episode, we discuss the most in-demand conservation job skills. Dr. Askew also elaborates ...

Join us for an insightful deep dive into the world of marine conservation, coral reef resilience, and the blue economy with Dr. David Obura, one of the world’s leading marine ecologists and the founding director of CORDIO East Africa. CORDIO is a pioneering organization working to protect coral reefs and sustain marine ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean.

Dr. David Obura received a PhD from the University of Miami in 1995, focusi...

In this Episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, I am joined by Dr. Laurie Marker, the founder and Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). Founded in Namibia in 1990, CCF has become the leading authority in cheetah conservation globally, with projects across Somaliland, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and Botswana. Beyond Africa, CCF also has supported the conservation of the last remaining Asiatic cheetahs ...

The gharial, a Critically Endangered species, is an unmistakable crocodilian on the edge of extinction. Recognizable by its long, slender jaws adapted for catching fish, males have a distinctive bulbous growth on their snouts called a "ghara," which is named after a traditional Indian pot. This unique feature is also the basis for the species' common name, "gharial." Unlike other crocodiles, gharials exhibit a marked difference bet...

In Episode 14, I am joined by one of India’s leading conservation filmmakers, Rita Banerji. She is the founder of Dusty Foot Productions and the Dusty Foot Foundation, through which  Green Hub established in 2014. As  An Ashoka Fellow, Rita is the winner of multiple Green Oscars for her films on wildlife and environment.  Rita was inducted as an Ashoka Fellow for the Green Hub project in 2019. Through this project, she is supportin...

Many of the world’s poorest communities are among tribal and indigenous populations. Trapped in a relentless cycle of extreme poverty, vulnerability, and deprivation, they face a complex web of challenges that are deeply interconnected. These communities are the most vulnerable to the onset of climate change and environmental degradation. Increased water scarcity, soil instability and deforestation threaten the livelihoods of the 3...

Earlier this year, Amazon Prime released the thrilling crime drama “Poacher” which revolved around the elephant poaching crisis and ivory trade in 2015. Based in Kerala, the series explores how the Forest Department, with support from NGOs and conservationists, risked their lives to investigate and tackle the lucrative illegal ivory trade. One of the protagonists of the webseries, Alan Joseph, is based on one of India’s most promin...

In Episode 11, I am joined by Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, a renowned rhino conservationist. He is the Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of Aaranyak, the leading conservation NGO in Northeast India, and a Senior Advisor at the International Rhino Foundation.

We discuss the remarkable recovery of the Greater One-Horned Rhino in Assam. Bibab elaborates on how conservation efforts revived the species from the brink of extinction ...

In Episode 10 of Season 3, I am joined by Neha Singh, the founder of Forest Regeneration and Sustainability Trust (FORREST). Neha elaborates upon the Trust’s work on ecosystem restoration in urban and agricultural landscapes. This includes habitat restoration in Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai, wetland restoration in Jamshedpur and the Farmers for Bird Conservation initiative. She also talks about the roles of wildlife passe...

In Episode 9 of this season, I am joined by Kayden Anthony, a wildlife biologist with a knack of digital marketing and content creation. Kayden is the founder of Nature’s Eye, which strives to bring informative and educational content, ranging from biomonitoring, ecological data analysis and remote sensing. In this episode, he talks about the role of digital media in wildlife conservation. Additionally, he talks about wildlife cont...

In Episode 8, I am joined by Moumita Chakraborty, a Eastern Himalayas Consultant at the Global Tiger Forum, to discuss red panda conservation. During her PhD at the Wildlife Institute of India, Moumita studied the habitat suitability of Red Panda in the Sikkim to identify the priority areas for the conservation. She also studied the relationship between red panda and people in the habitat.

Listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List, ...

The Asiatic caracal is India’s rarest wild cat. In fact, with the population estimated to be less than 100, the caracal is on the verge of becoming the second extinct species of cat in India after the recently reintroduced cheetah.

In Episode 7, I explore the ecology and conservation of this fascinating cat with Shreyas Vijay, the founder of the Caracal Conservation and Research Project (CCRP). We discuss his research on mapping the...