Simon & Peter talk about their conservation heroes of 2021.

The list could be endless, but we talk about the recent passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, E.O. Wilson and Thomas Lovejoy and celebrate Dr Esmond Martin, Wangari Maathai, Merlyn Nkomo, Dr John Hanks, Peter Fearnhead, Jane Goodall and Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka as some of this year’s conservation heroes.

We wish all our listeners a prosperous, successful and exciting 2022. The fight to save our wild places has never been tougher, but it is made easier by all the amazing folk who do so much for so little. We salute you all.

Poaching in South Africa soars and sanctuaries are under increasing pressure. Please join us in supporting them this Christmas. is media hysteria around poaching accurate? and have polar bears evolved to use tools?

What will it take for Shell to stop the provably destructive seismic testing on South Africa's east coast?, over 18,000 oil slicks observed via satellite images, the Niger Delta is under threat, a new conservation tourism platform gives cause for hope, trophy hunting under continued scrutiny as reports emerge of captive bred tigers being killed for sport and Cameroon sends in the military.

Peter returns, 30 rhinos relocated from SA to Rwanda, Shell respond to growing public pressure about their seismic surveys on SA's coastline, we encourage all to sign the petition, what's the best way to see the gorillas in Rwanda? and a sensational series of videos sparks fierce debate about elephant encounters in the wild.

Shannon and Simon return from the Okavango Delta and discuss the important of responsible tourism.

Invest Bank and United For Wildlife release financial report on the illegal wildlife, Expeadia Group will no longer support properties that promote animal interactions, France bans wild animals in circuses, the mink trade and dolphin shows, Conservation International has released a report on areas we must protect to beat the climate crisis, Blue Carbon is gaining momentum, Shell begins seismic surveys off South Africa's coast and Gabon has quickly become the last refuge of the African forest elephant.

In this, the latest series from the Art Of Conservation, Simon Borchert will be chatting to Dr Peter Lindsey, director of the Lion Recovery Fund and one of the most astute conservationists working in this field. Once a month, Peter and Simon will chat about Peter’s travels, his observations and his work. Not just in lion conservation but across a host of pertinent and relevant topics in conservation.

This is part one in an ongoing series

COP26 in Glasgow yields few reasons for optimism as leaders seemingly fall short of authentic accountability yet again.

The Shannon Elizabeth Foundation launches new education fund. Merlyn Nkomo joins us in studio to talk about the challenges young Africans face in developing a career in the biodiversity economy and her role in spearheading the One Woman’s Legacy Scholarship Fund.

COP26 has the world abuzz, first rhino to get a CT scan is doing well, are elephants evolving with no tusks?, what does the future hold for the northern white rhino?, poachers receive hefty sentences, is demand for ivory declining in China?, a suspected poacher is trampled to death by an elephant and CITES responds to save the vaquita, but is it too late? Sign the open letter - #SaveTheOkavango

Season Two! We Are Back with more news, insights, interviews, reviews and debates! Shannon and Simon reflect on spending time in Yellowstone, travel bans are lifting, is Prince William right to criticize space-bound billionaires?, Jaguars poisoned in South America and why do trophy hunters who claim the ethical treatment of animals yet dismiss animal welfare? We invite the contentious debate - but who will respond...?

Backlash over last week's episode, but we stand firm in our call to support the captive lion breeding bill in SA, 138kg of rhino horn and 3 tonnes of lion bone seized in Vietnam, Cory Booker is gunning for agriculture monopolies, Mexico reduces protection measures for the vaquita, and what does Bezos and Branson's trip to space mean for the earth they left behind?

Dr Andrew Muir, CEO of Wilderness Foundation, shares his experience of his time on the high level panel appointed by Minister Barbara Creecy and we hear the urgent call for unity in global conservation circles to support the policy to ban the captive lion breeding industry.

Peter’s editorial explores the growing controversy behind the proposed relocation of 13 elephant from the UK to Kenya

This week we answer your burning conservation questions.

With questions from around the world, we answer questions like, what are the best conservation books to read and learn more? Should we sell rhino horn stockpiles to wealthy philanthropists, or should we destroy them? Do ivory and rhino burns or crushes work? Should NGOs support or challenge the captive lion breeding bill in South Africa? How do environmental bills get passed into law in the USA and should presidents execute more executive orders?

SPECIAL REPORT!! South Africa's minister of the Department of Forest Fisheries & Environment calls for public comment on the policy paper to end captive lion breeding. We talk to Don Pinnock and call for urgent unity in conservation circles.

Poaching kingpin assassinated, early rhinos were bigger than mammoths, World Female Ranger Day launches, Ecocide could be recognised as law, Yulan dog festival raises hackles, poaching in Tanzania declines and wolves are still under threat.

Can you be swallowed by a whale?, Youth Day in South Africa puts a spotlight on young people entering the biodiversity economy, an exciting move to better protect whales from shipping, Israel bans fur trade, 2 new Javan rhino calves has us excited and Rolex National Geographic Conservation winners announced.

Peter talks migrations, Simon calls out sensationalism in media and how to avoid it, Facebook needs to step up, poachers nabbed in Namibia and South Africa, donkey collagen industry has Shannon fuming.

ReconAfrica under investigation, container ship dumps tons of plastic into the ocean off the Sri Lankan coast, India reintroduces cheetah, Kenya gets support from UNEP, Bangladesh dabs notorious tiger poacher, South African joins forces with France.

We discuss World Endangered Species Day, the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation is celebrating by fundraising for a blind black rhino, lions in India test positive for Covid-19, poaching up in Botswana, Simon has a rant and Darwin's Arch collapses while Leonardo di Caprio spearheads a $43million fund to protect the region.

NRA's bankruptcy application denied as its CEO botches a trophy hunt, lion breeders in SA prepare class action, Idaho passes shocking law legalising the inhumane slaughter of wolves, pressure mounts on ReconAfrica and Peter reconsider's his stance on Seaspiracy.

Special Report! We interview Ian Michler, founder of Blood Lions about South Africa's move to ban the captive breeding of lion and rhino.