Talking Apes

Conservation is often focused on the future: safeguarding a tomorrow for the flora and fauna to secure strong biodiversity and a safe planet for our children down the road. But what about the past? The origins of conservation as we know it today? Author and science journalist Michelle Nijhuis joins us on Talking Apes to discuss the conservation story and unpack how this history has shaped our appr...

The bushmeat industry, the illegal pet trade, rampant habitat loss, and much more. All of these combined would wipe out ape and monkey populations across Africa if it weren't for the organizations at the frontlines of conservation. Chief among them is the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) , a US-based nonprofit created by African primate sanctuaries to coordinate species-saving efforts ar...

On this episode of Talking Apes , we chat with Colleen Reed , with the Oregon Zoo and Orangutan Outreach to discuss some of her favorite moments and lessons from her years of work with Orangutans around the USA and with Bornean Orangutan Survival Foundation . Two parts primatology, one part memoir, this episode is a wonderful look at orangutans for beginners and experts alike! Send us Fan Mail Sup...

For nearly 200 years the thinking around conservation has been evolving. But has it evolved fast enough to effectively connect us to the world around us?                      This time on Talking Apes we are joined by researcher Dr. Aleah Bowie — and journey into the world of conservation psychology. Dr. Bowie is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Duke University and explores human thinking and behavior to...

Dr. Alexandra Rosati is an assistant professor of psychology and anthropology at the University of Michigan. There Alex leads the cognitive evolution group, where she searches for answers to our mind’s evolution and how it makes decisions  by peering into the minds of apes like us — chimpanzees and bonobos — as well as monkeys and lemurs She is asking — HOW do our primate relatives think about the...

 Virodiversity explores the world of emerging infectious disease and zoonosis with disease detective Dr. Tony Goldberg , a professor of pathobiological sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine. For disease detective Dr. Tony Goldberg , the ever-lurking emissaries of infectious disease — viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites — are the epidemiological Easter eggs...

Have you ever wondered what field research is really like? Dr. Martha Robbins has logged countless hours in Gabon, Uganda, and beyond observing (and admiring!) wild ape populations. She can attest that it's not all glitz and glam in the field but that patience pays off! Dr. Robbins works with Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and shares about her 30 years of field research on...

Many of us see the issues facing apes today and wonder what can we do to help? This is exactly what Richard Zimmerman felt when he first saw orangutans in the wilds of Indonesia. He turned this desire for change into real-world impact by founding Orangutan Outreach. Have a listen to his story and the incredible work Orangutan Outreach has accomplished for red ape conservation in the wild! Talking...

We cross the border, whip out our passports for a stamp, and are on our merry way without a second thought. What many of us don’t consider is how chimps and gorillas in the wild can also cross country lines – and what this means for their conservation.  Luckily for the apes, there are experts taking a look at this curious conservation issue to help amplify protection efforts! Take a listen to this...

Have our ape cousins - the bonobos - gotten it right? Is being friendly a better survival strategy than terrorizing your neighbor? Did we misunderstand Darwin? Could it be evolution favors the friendliest, not the fittest?  This episode of Talking Apes catches up with evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Brian Hare who's exploring our friendlier human nature through the behavior of our peaceful Co...