Citizen Zoo’s Rewilding Podcast

In this month's episode Lucas, Elliot and Digby hop between Europe, to North then South America. Starting with the news of an ambitious project to help golden eagles once again soar in the skies above England. The team then discuss a thought provoking recent paper, which suggests rewilding large areas of land can be an effective tool to bolster national security. Over then to Mexico, where the Mexican Wolf subspecies is returning to its ancestral home, with individuals coming from populations north of the border in the US. Finally, fly over to Rio De Janeiro, where the expansive Tijuca National Park, the worlds largest urban rainforest, is once again home to the Blue-and-yellow macaw, a locally extinct but hugely symbolic species for the beating heart of Brazil.

Join Lucas, Elliot and Digby as they explore four extraordinary stories of innovation, rediscovery and wild recovery from across the globe. In New Zealand, they discuss the beloved kākāpō and uncover the smart science behind one of the world’s most ambitious bird conservation programmes. Then to California, where researchers are working to bring the rare white abalone back from the brink. Deep in West Papua, two remarkable ‘Lazarus species’, mammals once thought lost to the fossil record, are found alive in a humbling story about the mysteries nature still holds. Finally, back in London, Citizen Zoo’s tower mustard project is empowering volunteer citizen rewilders to grow this rare native plant at home before returning it to its former range across the capital.

Join Lucas, Elliot and Digby as they delve into four more incredible rewilding stories this month. Starting with the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme and their announcement of 8 new large rewilding sites across Europe. Heading then to the Galapagos and the reintroduction of the iconic Floreana giant tortoise back to its namesake island. Heading over to Wales to take a look at the Tir Natur flagship site following a huge land purchase. Finally back home to London talking about Citizen Zoo's WILD Tolworth project and the release of free roaming cattle and pigs at a public nature reserve in the city.

This month, Lucas, Elliot and Digby explore four more rewilding breakthroughs from around the globe. In Saudi Arabia, an ambitious project looks to restore cheetahs and ostriches using closely related subspecies. In Australia, endangered frogs are receiving innovative “sauna” treatments to fight the deadly chytrid fungus. Meanwhile, twin gorillas have been born in Virunga National Park in Central Africa, a rare and hopeful milestone. Back in the UK, a major public consultation reveals that a large majority of people support the reintroduction of lynx to Scotland.

In our first episode of 2026, we’re diving into red squirrel reintroductions in Scotland, a new feasibility study exploring the return of wildcats to South West England. We take a look at a recent paper showing rising numbers of North America’s “Big Four” predators, pumas, grey wolves, grizzly bears and black bears. We’ll also be celebrating the excellent BBC Sir David Attenborough documentary Wild London, featuring our very own Ealing beavers, and sharing some very fond memories of meeting the man himself.

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