Amazing Wildlife: A San Diego Zoo Podcast

What is a carnivorous and endangered marsupial? In this episode, Amazing Wildlife explores what makes the Tasmanian Devil so fascinating. Hosts Ebone Monet and Rick Schwartz discuss the history behind the creature’s unique name, the role they play in their habitat, and the breeding program to introduce the population outside of Tasmania. Later,  Cora Singleton joins the show to give insight about...

For this episode, Amazing Wildlife ventures to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia to showcase one of the world’s largest birds… the cassowary. Hosts Ebone and Rick uncover why this threatened species is so important to its forest habitats, how they resemble dinosaurs, and the unique coloring of their eggs. They also unpack why these flightless birds hold the...

For this episode of Amazing Wildlife, we’re traveling to the cloud forests of the island of Papua New Guinea to find an animal found nowhere else in the world! Locals call Matschie’s tree kangaroos “ghosts of the forest” because they are so hard to spot and move quickly. Hosts Rick and Ebone discuss how this kangaroo is uniquely adapted for climbing trees and how zoos are working together to save...

The animal explored in this episode is so unusual that when it was first discovered by European explorers, they had a hard time convincing scientists it was real! We’re talking about the one and only platypus .  Hosts Rick and Ebone reveal some cool facts about this egg-laying mammal and detail the journey on how the San Diego Zoo became the only zoo outside Australia to house platypuse...

This Amazing Wildlife episode is all about a beautiful and unusual mammal found only in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo… the Okapi! Hosts Rick and Ebone find out how this species, which is the only living relative of the giraffe, manages to blend in with surroundings in their native habitat and explore their different vocalizations and social dynamic. Later, senior wildlife...

Meet the largest of the zebra species… Grevy’s Zebra! Amazing Wildlife hosts Rick and Ebone examine the history of the species’ name and discuss how to spot the difference between a Grevy’s Zebra and a Plains Zebra. Mike Langridge, animal Care Supervisor at San Diego Zoo joins the show to share the different challenges the Grevy's Zebra has faced over the last several decades.  If you have a quest...

This episode of Amazing Wildlife   tracks the world's fastest land mammal… the cheetah! Hosts Rick and Ebone explore the cheetah’s unique adaptations to find out the secret to their speed and what makes them unique among other large cat species. Later, Animal Training Supervisor, Janet Rose-Hinostroza, joins the show to discuss the factors as to why the cheetah’s “vulnerable” status is being pushe...

What was once extinct but now glides across southwestern U.S. skies? It’s the California Condor! Hosts Rick and Ebone explore the species’ deep ties to its region, how you can spot this vulture, and what is included in their diet in order to maintain an impressive wingspan. Lead Wildlife Care Specialist, Ron Webb, and Associate Director of Conservation Research Division, Nacho Vil...

What is a beautifully colored arboreal species found only on the Fiji Islands? We’re talking about the Fiji Iguana! Hosts Rick and Ebone reveal what makes the Fiji banded iguana unique, how this lizard is perfectly shaded to camouflage with the forest, and what classifies a lizard to be an iguana. San Diego Zoo curator of herpetology, Kim Gray, makes an appearance to explain the Species...

Amazing Wildlife uncovers fascinating facts about the last living "wild" horse, the Przewalski's Horse! Hosts Rick and Ebone explain how the closest living relative of the domestic horse got its unique name and its recovery from once being considered extinct in nature. Later, we’re joined by SDZWA Director of Reproductive Sciences, Barbara Durant, and SDZWA’s curator of the Frozen Zoo,...

After spotlighting the Southern White Rhino, Amazing Wildlife explores a subspecies that’s functionally extinct, the Northern White Rhino. Functionally extinct means there is no chance for the current population, as it is, to naturally reproduce. Hosts Rick and Ebone detail what led to their critically endangered status and the factors that make it hard for the rhino to easily mate and repro...

Amazing Wildlife examines a subspecies of the second largest land mammal on the planet, the white rhinoceros. Hosts Rick and Ebone give insight to how the Southern White Rhino marks its’ territory, their affinity for mud, and their complex social structure. The duo discusses the theory of how the white rhino got its name through miscommunication between languages and share current solutions...

Amazing Wildlife spotlights its oldest species at the San Diego Zoo…   the Galapagos tortoise! The animal is credited with possibly helping to inspire Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Hosts Rick and Ebone explore the connection between the Galapagos tortoise and the famous theory as well as give us facts on its lifespan, size and diet. Later, Rick answers questions from...

You might know them from their long arms and unique colored hair. We’re talking about the tree dwelling great apes of Southeast Asia … Orangutans! Hosts Ebone and Rick reveal how this species got its name that is often mispronounced. The duo explains how to tell the difference between the different types of orangutans, the unique closeness they have with their mothers, and how the rat...

Amazing Wildlife takes a journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the only place were you can find bonobos! Genetically speaking, this endangered great ape species are cousins to humans. Hosts Rick and Ebone discuss bonobos' unique social behaviors that gave them the reputation of being kind to strangers, having relatively peaceful societies, and being highly intelligent. Joining the show is D...

For this episode of Amazing Wildlife, we're taking a trip to the highest peak of the Galapagos Islands where a unique reptile calls home. The Galapagos Pink Iguana is so special that it was officially classified as its own species in 2009. Sadly, there are an estimated 200 to 300 remaining in nature. Hosts Rick and Ebone touch on the several obstacles young pink iguanas face in order to...

Amazing Wildlife takes a look at a tree-loving bear known for the light-colored fur around its eyes that looks like a pair of eyeglasses... the Andean bear! The Andean bear is special because it is the closest living relative of the extinct species of North American short-faced bear. Hosts Ebone Monet and Rick Schwartz explore the background of how this South American native has received its many...

In this episode, Amazing Wildlife meets the longest member of the weasel family... the giant river otter! Hosts Rick and Ebone detail why the giant river otter is known as the “river wolf," its role in South America’s aquatic system, and what separates this species from the other otters. A Postdoctoral Associate in Recovery Ecology at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Dr. Adi Barocas, j...

Amazing Wildlife explores the smallest of the large cats, but the largest of South America's big cats.. the Jaguar! Hosts Rick and Ebone Monet uncover the native habitat of South America’s only native big cat and how they have adapted for life in the tropical rainforest. You’ll find out from Dr. Mathias Tobler (a wildlife ecologist with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) about what s...

COVID-19 did not cause disruption on just the human population, but it also took a toll on some of our animal friends. Amazing Wildlife breaks down what happened when a troop of gorillas tested positive for COVID-19, and how wildlife care specialists at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park kept wildlife healthy during a pandemic. Hosts Rick and Ebone speak with Dr. Lauren Howard, associ...

Amazing Wildlife takes a journey to Central Africa to learn about forest elephants! Hosts Rick and Ebone are joined by Dr. Ekwoge Abwe, manager of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Central Africa Program’s Ebo Forest Research Project, which is encouraging local communities to take pride in the forest’s unique biodiversity and help protect forest elephants. If you have a question for...

Amazing Wildlife’s special April Fools episode takes a look at opossums that play dead, insects that look like plants, and other wildlife that might fool you! Hosts Rick and Ebone unveil some of the surprising reasons behind the wild performances and a young explorer joins the conversation with questions about the deceptive animal behavior. If you have a question for Amazing Wildlife you can...

Amazing Wildlife is taking a leap into the colorful world of the butterfly! Rick and Ebone analyze how the shades of the butterfly wings that capture our attention serve a different purpose in nature. The hosts also explain the importance of the creature in order to help scientists measure the health of the planet. Later, Paige Howorth joins the show to give us insight on why the Quino checkerspot...

When you think of owls, you may think of the nocturnal animal known for operating peacefully in a tree at night. But in this episode, Amazing Wildlife is exploring a special species, the burrowing owl that is active in the daytime and on the ground. Hosts Rick and Ebone dissect what makes these tiny birds so unique, what’s behind their declining numbers, and their connection to the decline i...

The more you know about bees, the more you can appreciate these unique insects and how they provide us humans with much more than just honey! Hosts Ebone Monet and Rick Schwartz explore the contributions of bees to our society and uncover the different colors of these insects besides just black and yellow! Dr. Keng-Lou James Hung, a Pollination ecologist and assistant professor at the University o...