Episode 45: Skomer adventure, trilobite beetles, sea mice, wildcat updates, community shark conservation & good vulture news

Welcome to the forty fifth episode of the Zoology Ramblings Podcast!

In this episode, Emma and Robi recount their recent wildlife adventure to Skomer Island, where they were dodging toads and bombarded by Manx Shearwaters. For their species of the week, they both pick weird invertebrates. Robi talks about the prehistoric-looking trilobite beetle and Emma talks about the equally unusual sea mouse. For their local conservation stories, Emma and Robi both talk about wildcats, with Robi talking about their possible reintroduction to Devon and Emma sharing some exciting camera trap news of Scottish wildcats. Finally, for their global conservation section, Robi delves into community conservation for thresher sharks, and Emma talks about good news for Cinerous vultures in Spain.

Robi Watkinson is a Conservation Biologist and wildlife filmmaker specialising in the spatial and movement ecology of large carnivores, camera trapping survey methods, rewilding, metapopulation dynamics and conservation planning. He has an MSc in Conservation Biology from the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, and the Institute of Communities and Wildlife in Africa, University of Cape Town. He is based between Cape Town and London, and has strong interests in equitable and inclusive conservation, palaeontology and wildlife taxonomy and evolution!

Emma Hodson is a Zoologist and wildlife content creator, currently working in the community and engagement team at Avon Wildlife Trust. Emma’s role as a Wildlife Champions Project Officer involves supporting and upskilling people to take action for nature in their local communities. Emma has experience in remote wildlife fieldwork, and has been part of Arctic fox, macaw and cetacean research teams in Iceland, Peru and Wales respectively. She has also been involved in animal care and rehabilitation work in Costa Rica and South Africa. Emma is particularly passionate about the interface between community engagement and wildlife monitoring, and enjoys running workshops and giving talks on topics including camera trapping, beaver ecology and rewilding.

You can follow more of our weird and wonderful wildlife adventures on instagram: @zoologyramblingspodcast & @robi_watkinson_wildlife & @emma_hodson_wildlife

Zoology Ramblings Merch: https://zoology-ramblings.teemill.com/