The Asia for Animals podcast

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has recently marked its 50th anniversary with the landmark 20th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Samarkand. Hosts Ngoc Anh Nguyen and Koh Jieh Long were joined by Dr. Mark Jones, Head of Policy at the Born Free Foundation and a CITES veteran, to break down the pivotal outcomes. In this ep...

In this special episode, we take you behind the scenes of  Asia Farm Animal Day (AFAD)  — the region’s leading gathering for farmed animal advocates — to hear directly from three inspiring voices representing India, Indonesia, and Nepal. Join us as they share their experiences, key learnings, and personal takeaways from the conference. From building connections across borders to discovering new st...

Welcome to the "Shelter Fatigue" Podcast Series by the Dog and Cat Coalition (DACC)! Join Cica, Lead Coordinator of DACC, and Henna Pekko, Managing Director of Rescue P.A.W.S. Thailand, as they discuss the pressure shelters face when it comes to making decisions and why it’s okay to acknowledge our limits. This conversation is a reminder that no shelter or rescuer is facing these challenges alone,...

To celebrate World Orangutan Day, we release a podcast with the Centre for Orangutan Protection to explore one of the most powerful journeys in orangutan conservation: the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orangutans back into the wild. Through stories from the field, insights from experts, and a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of orangutan rehabilitation, this episode delves into th...

We often see news reports about live animals being confiscated by the authorities. We automatically assume they have been "rescued"; however, fortunately or unfortunately, the animals survive after confiscation. They have to live on to deal with the aftermath of their psychological trauma, as a result of being separated from their parents and having witnessed them being killed. In this podcast epi...

This World Parrot Day, we speak with Angela D'Alessio of the World Parrot Trust and Billy Gustafianto Lolowang of Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Center about the journey of repatriating illegally traded parrots back to Indonesia — and the complex, hopeful process of releasing them back into the wild.  Tune in and celebrate the resilience of parrots and the people fighting for their return.

Have you ever wondered what goes into planning Asia’s largest and most progressive animal advocacy conference? In this special episode, we chat with Connie Chiang (Taiwan SPCA) and Wu Hung (EAST), two incredible voices from the Conference Steering Committee. We’re diving into this year’s powerful theme, “Reflection and Breaking Boundaries,” and what makes AfA Conference Taipei 2025 a must-attend e...

In this special International Macaque Week episode, host Amanda Yonica is joined by Vasanthi Kumar and Tanveer Khanam from STRAW India — a leading voice in humane education. For nearly two decades, STRAW has worked to bring empathy into Indian classrooms, integrating animal welfare into school curricula, teacher training, and student workshops. In this episode, we explore how their work helps chil...

Join our esteemed guest, Trixie Concepcion, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at the Dolphin Safe Monitoring Program, Earth Island Institute, as she shares her years of experience in dolphin protection across the Asia Pacific region, offering insights into the exciting and ever-evolving challenges of marine animal welfare advocacy. Discover the origins of the Dolphin Safe program, explore crucial...

Join us as we celebrate Thai Elephant Day with our latest podcast! In this special episode, we explore the unique personalities of elephants and how recognizing them as individuals can pave the way for harmonious human-elephant relationships. We’re thrilled to welcome Ave Owen from Bring the Elephant Home for an insightful conversation from Kuri Bui National Park, Thailand.  

Welcome to the "Shelter Fatigue" Podcast Series by the Dog and Cat Coalition (DACC). The very first episode dives into the critical issue of hoarding and its impact on animal welfare. Join Cica, Lead Coordinator of DACC, and Aarthi Sankar, Executive Director of SPCA Singapore, as they discuss the consequences of animal hoarding and solutions to ensure the desire to help doesn’t harm the very anima...

We know it's illegal and inhumane to keep wild animals as pets or for exploitation; but what happens to the animals in cases where law enforcement confiscates them? Animal Asia provides a sanctuary that serves not merely as a shelter but a place where an Asiatic black bear, rescued from the bear bile farms, finds their confidence in living a normal life with other bears, again; while acting as the...

Join Ngoc Anh Nguyen, Lead Coordinator of the AfA Policy Coalition, as she sits down with David Pedersen, Membership Development Officer at the World Federation for Animals (WFA), for a powerful conversation about uniting the global animal welfare movement. With inspiring success stories, strategies for overcoming barriers, and a hopeful vision for the future, this episode is a must-listen for any...

This podcast episode explores the vital issue of protecting animals in disaster situations, featuring insights from Altamush Saeed, an award-winning interspecies justice lawyer, professor, and activist. Altamush shared his experiences in animal rescue operations, the need for inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR) frameworks, and his vision for international policies that safeguard animals during...

The AfA SMACC team discuss their latest report, "Spot the Scam: Unmasking Fake Animal Rescue". The Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition spent months investigating fake animal rescues on social media, and in this episode will share their shocking findings. Listen to learn how you can identify the real from the fake, and what action you can take to help animals.

Join the AfA Macaque Coalition’s Lead Coordinator in conversation with Praneetha Monipi, wildlife biologist, conservationist, and founder of Adhvaya: Beyond Barriers! They dive deep into the world of bonnet macaques, explore the complexities of primate welfare and conservation, and shine a light on the unique challenges faced by grassroots activists and organizations working tirelessly for their c...

In this episode, we invite you to learn more about Ape conservation and welfare efforts that are being highlighted on October 8 by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries' annual fundraiser- 'Giving Day for Apes'. Hear from Valerie Taylor, Executive Director at the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries on what is Giving Day for Apes, how does it help apes and how can you be involved.

The animal protection movement is a challenging field that exposes workers to high levels of stress and trauma. Compassion fatigue, burnout, stress injury, and vicarious trauma are common issues faced by those dedicated to helping end animal suffering. Join us for an empowering session with Jessica Dolce from Compassion in Balance where we hear of some real-life experiences about these occupationa...

The capacity of the Asian farmed animal and diet change NGO advocacy sector remains critically lacking compared to the scale of the issue. Additionally, global fund distribution remains disproportionate to the magnitude of the problem, creating challenges for organizations on the ground.  Join Jessika Ava from Thrive Philanthropy and Wanyi Zeng from Welfare Matters as we explore the findings of ou...

This episode delves into the critical link between animal welfare and climate action, highlighting the discussions and outcomes from the recent Bonn Climate Change Conference and setting the stage for the upcoming COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Host Ngoc Anh Nguyen and guest Angel Flores from World Animal Protection explore the challenges and opportunities of integrating animal welfare into global cli...

As we observe National Grief Awareness Day on August 30th, our latest episode of the One Life podcast delves into the profound emotion of grief. While this day traditionally focuses on human experiences, we also explore how grief impacts non-human animals, reflecting their deep emotional connections and the need for compassion.   Join our hosts Eileen and Dino to recognize the shared experience of...

In this compelling episode of AfA Podcast, host Vinnie from the Farm Animal Coalition (FAC) sits down with four exceptional guest speakers from Animal Kingdom Foundation who co-organized the recent FAC regional events in the Philippines. This episode offers an in-depth look at the FAC Regional Event, an initiative by FAC aimed at improving farmed animal welfare across different regions through col...

Ever wondered what it’s like to lead the world’s oldest animal welfare organization? Or how the RSPCA UK is preparing for its remarkable 200th anniversary?  This episode with the CEO Chris Sherwood, explores the legacy and evolution of RSPCA, their rebranding, and the daily work that drives their mission forward. Tune in to discover what makes this historic organization a continued force for anima...

Long-tailed macaques are regarded by some as "pests" and others as "resources" - and they're killed, captured and traded in huge numbers around the world - to the extent that they are now considered to be Endangered. The biomedical industry, which utilizes many thousands of LTM individuals every year, has launched a formal challenge to their Endangered status.   We'll talk with LTM expert Malene F...

Curious about the ongoing efforts to advocate for animal welfare in Indonesia? Want to learn more about impactful campaigns like 'Dog Meat Free Indonesia' and 'Go Cage-free'? In this episode, we catch up with Herdiana Putri Ayuningtyas and Monique van der Harst from Animal Friends Jogja to explore their comprehensive approach to policy advocacy and community engagement. Discover the challenges and...