The Animal Nerd Podcast

We've all seen those photos of Roger the ripped kangaroo flexing for the camera, right? And maybe you've even seen the videos of him chasing people down. Or perhaps you saw his CGI twin in the 2025 film Kangaroo? Either way, you probably don't know this buff boy's full life story - how he was first rescued as a tiny orphaned baby, found cowering in his dead mothers pouch; and the complicated relat...

In 2020, animal lovers across Brazil were horrified by the story of Sansao, a pit bull who was violently attacked by humans who cut off his hind legs with a sickle. But instead of giving in to despair, people instead turned their heartbreak into action, ultimately forcing their reluctant government to introduce new laws to protect animals from harm, and to secure justice for Sansao. It's an inspir...

The Steller's sea cow, or Hydrodamalis gigas, was one of the most beautiful and unique animals to have ever graced our planet - but despite that, less than three decades after they first became known to western science, these gentle giants of the ocean had been hunted to extinction. The loss of the Steller's sea cow was an unnecessary and avoidable tragedy, fuelled by capitalistic greed and a tota...

Since the peak of his fame in the late 1980s, Bubbles the chimp - the beloved (and controversial) pet and sidekick of the (equally beloved & controversial) King of Pop - has disappeared completely from the public eye. But what really happened to him? Where did he go? And is he still alive? In this weeks episode of the Animal Nerd Podcast, I'm deep-diving into Bubbles' story, from his birth in...

Thomas was a feral goose living in New Zealand, who initially made headlines when people realised that he had chosen a black swan as his mate. Their interspecies relationship alone would have been enough to garner attention, but when their fans realised that they were also both males, Thomas and his husband Henry were skyrocketed to international stardom. But it wasn't until a second black swan ar...

One day, Blackie the donkey was living a quiet, unsuspecting life in rural Spain. The next, he found himself at the centre of an international rescue mission which included underhand journalism tactics, decades of campaigning, and a fierce debate about the intersection of tradition and animal welfare that still rages on to this day. So sit back and relax (as much as you can) as we dive deep into t...

When you imagine the kind of wildlife native to Yorkshire, hippopotamuses are probably not the first species that spring to mind. And, sure, these days if you go for a stroll through the Dales you're definitely not going to run into one of them. But prior to the last ice age, they were actually a common sight across much of the UK, and so it's not as uncommon as you'd think for their fossilised re...

In the early 1980s, the case of the Silver Springs monkeys - seventeen macaques rescued from a medical research laboratory in Maryland - became one of the highest-profile animal rights cases in American history. It sparked widespread conversations on the ethics of animal experimentation and skyrocketed People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) into the global spotlight. Despite being a la...

In the early 20th century, a wire-haired fox terrier named Caesar became the most famous dog in Europe after he took pride of place in the funeral procession of his owner, King Edward VII of England, but in the 100+ years since then he's been forgotten... until now! "Where's Master? By Caesar the King's Dog" full audiobook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wILLCkJ4lzc Original air date: 15th April...

The rescue of Kaavan the Asian elephant - nicknamed 'the loneliest elephant in the world' - made headlines around the globe when American superstar Cher backed the campaign to free him. But there is so much more to this incredible story than that, and today we're taking a deep dive into the full life story of Kaavan, from his birth in the rainforests of Sri Lanka to his life now in a Cambodian san...

70-odd years ago, Slippery the sea lion (often misdescribed as a seal) escaped from his pool at Storybook Park in Ontario, swimming downstream and crossing the border into the United States, where he would go on to cause an international incident. Or did he? Turns out there's more to this story than meets the eye! Original air date: Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show whe...

In the 2010s, Lil Bub's adorable face was inescapable. But how much do you really know about this amazing little cat? In this episode of The Animal Nerd Podcast, we delve into her story, from her humble beginnings as a feral kitten rescued from a tool shed to her incredible career as a celebrity, to the beautiful legacy she's left behind. If you'd like to support Lil Bub's legacy: lilbub.com/ stor...

As soon as I heard the story of Petra the swan and her pedalo partner, I just knew I had to use it as a Valentine's special (which this originally was!). I hope you find them as adorable a couple as I did! Original air date: 14th February 2025 Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast fro...

When Pierre, an elderly penguin living at a Californian research institute, began to go bald, his caretakers were left scratching their heads. Not only did they not know what was causing his sudden feather loss, they also didn't have a clue how to help him. But with some creative thinking and shared expertise, staff came up with an ingenious solution - that also turned this critically endangered C...

This week in the Animal Nerd Podcast we explore the incredible true story of Tucker, a rescue dog who went from a homeless stray to a real-life hero, helping conservationists study and protect some of the world's most amazing - and endangered - wild animals. Original air date: 4th February 2025 Important note : Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, a...

In 2006, Bear JJ1 - later nicknamed Bruno the Bear - became the first of his kind to set foot in Germany since the 19th century. Beloved by some and reviled by others, he soon became a controversial figure in his new homeland, triggering passionate debate across Europe - and even some international disputes! Original air date: 28th January 2025 Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import...

One day, Sundance and Butch were just two piglets on their way to be made into bacon. The next, they were fugitives on the run at the centre of an international media frenzy. The story of the Tamworth Two would become legend, but there is so much more to this tale than just some a couple of renegade pigs, and it's a story that I've been obsessed with my entire life - so of course I had to use my b...

Meadow was only a baby when she lost both of her hind legs to frostbite. She could have so easily succumbed to her injuries, and most people wouldn't have even thought to give her a chance. But she was lucky enough to be rescued by some incredibly kind humans, who took her in and gave her a second chance at life. But can a cow with such a severe disability live an enjoyable life? You'll have to li...

In his lifetime, Shergar the most famous and successful racehorse in the world - so when he was stolen from his stable by a group of masked men armed with machine guns, it naturally sent shockwaves through the equestrian world. In the more than forty years since his abduction, no trace of Shergar has ever been found, and no one has been brought to justice for their role in his theft and presumed k...

Oh, you think normal yellowjacket wasps are creepy? Just you wait until you learn about dementor wasps! These guys don't just sting - oh, no, they inject cockroaches with a mind-altering toxin that turns them into actual literal zombies... and things only get worse from there. Don't say I didn't warn you! Original air date:  31st October 2024 Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to imp...

So you've heard of mothman, right? Of course you have! How could anyone not know and love him? But have you ever heard of his English cousin, the owlman of Mawnan? He may not be as well-known as mothman, but the owlman absolutely terrified me as a child, which is why I had to choose him as our first ever Halloween special topic! And, yes, I am uploading a Halloween episode in August - I'm still re...

Dolly was probably the most famous sheep to have ever lived, but a lot of what we think we know about her is actually untrue. For example, did you know that she actually wasn't the first animal ever to be cloned? She wasn't even the first cloned sheep! So why did she get so much more attention than her predecessors? We dive into all of that in this weeks episode, as well as discussing what she was...

The MGM lion, nicknamed Leo, must be one of the most recognisable logos and mascots in the world. Generations of moviegoers have grown up watching him herald the start of the newest blockbuster. But have you ever actually wondered who the real lion behind the screen is? Because I have. It turns out that there have actually been a lot of lions featured in the MGM logo over the years, and some of th...

Revered as the world's most valuable dog, Pulaski's Masterpiece had it all. He was a champion show dog, a successful stud, the mascot of a luxury dog supply shop, a model, a socialite, a celebrity, a TV talk show host, and even an international goodwill ambassador. With a resumé like that, it's not surprise he was considered to be the most famous dog in the world during his lifetime. But that's no...

When she was only a baby, Rosa the sea otter was abandoned by her mother. Her life was saved by staff at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, who rescued and rehabilitated her with the hope of one day returning her to the wild. And while she was never able to be released, she would still go on to have a massive impact on helping to save her species, by both serving as a foster mother to other orphaned babie...