Advertise on podcast: Amazing Wildlife: A San Diego Zoo Podcast

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★★★★★

4.6

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226 reviews

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Did you know that in the world of elephants the females are the ones in charge? Or that a grizzly bear's bite is strong enough to crush a bowling ball? Amazing Wildlife gives a behind-the-scenes look inside the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park to gain insight on rare species and to explore the ongoing conservation efforts to save endangered wildlife no matter how big or small. Join us as hosts Rick Schwartz and now Marco Wendt transport listeners around the globe to highlight the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s collaborative efforts with local communities to drive positive change for the future of animals and plants. Through one-of-a-kind stories, you’ll hear what it takes to create a healthy next chapter for not only wildlife, but also for the people that share their habitats.

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Check latest episodes from Amazing Wildlife: A San Diego Zoo Podcast podcast

Cheetahs: The Purring Polka-Dotted Predator

2025/12/26

Earlier this month was International Cheetah Day, so this week, Marco is learning all about the world’s fastest land mammal. The Cheetah Conservation Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is one of 10 U.S. breeding facilities for the South African cheetah, and there is a lot that makes this species of feline so special. Tune in to learn about their cleat-like toenails, amazing vision, and how they are not quite a big or small cat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horticulture at Elephant Valley: Important and Immersive

2025/12/12

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park doesn’t just have animals—it also has incredible plants! Last episode, we learned about elephants, and this week, we’re learning about their zoo habitat. Host Marco is speaking with Director of Horticulture Raj Brown about Elephant Valley and how his team creates a sense of immersion and place. Tune in to learn more about hot composting, force fields, and the meaning of “zookie.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Social Dynamics of Elephants

2025/11/28

This week Marco is visiting Elephant Valley to learn all about the world’s largest land mammal. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to eight elephants, and they are very social animals! These intelligent mammals are special in the way they interact with each other and our care specialists. Tune in to hear about their social dynamics and learn more about the new and improved Elephant Valley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learning All About Gorillas — and Breaking Misconceptions

2025/11/14

Did you know the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to 11 gorillas? This week, Marco is going behind the scenes at the bachelor habitat to learn more about the “jock” of the great ape family. Tune in to discover how they obtain their silverbacks, how you can donate your old cell phone to support conservation efforts, and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Camouflaged Okapi

2025/10/24

Last week was World Okapi Day, and to celebrate, hosts Rick and Marco are heading to the San Diego Safari Park to speak with Dallas Dumont and learn all about this strikingly striped mammal. While a relative of the giraffe, the okapi is not quite as tall but shares its prehensile tongue. Tune in to hear about the newest okapi addition to the zoo, the purpose of tucking, and how they use their large ears. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Cassowary Day

2025/10/10

World Cassowary Day is September 26th, so hosts Rick and Marco are headed to the cassowary habitat area in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to learn more about these incredible flightless birds. Today they’re speaking with Wildlife Care Specialist Anna Caranahan about their unique feathers, their large green eggs, and the benefits of their casques. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wildlife Health Team—Crucial to Conservation

2025/09/12

Conservation is dynamic and deeply collaborative—and it takes many people across diverse disciplines to address the challenges facing wildlife. Hosts Rick and Marco speak with Hendrik Nollens, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s vice president of Wildlife Health, to learn how this team works to detect and prevent disease in wildlife and monitor their overall health. From California condors to mountain yellow-legged frogs and more, find out how the Wildlife Health team is helping increase many species’ chances of survival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking Back—and Forward: The Flight Path of the California Condor

2025/08/29

This week, host Rick speaks with senior wildlife care specialist Nora Willis about an iconic bird with a gigantic wingspan! In the 1980s, just over 20 California condors were left in the world, but through groundbreaking conservation efforts, there are now more than 500. Find out more about San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s successful breeding program, how young California condors learn to thrive in Southwest habitats, and the meaning of “puppet rearing.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parrots in Pine Forests – Meet the Thick-Billed Parrot

2025/08/15

This week, hosts Rick and Marco are headed to Baja Garden in the San Diego Safari Park to speak with James Sheppard and Jenna Stallard about a brilliantly colored thick-billed parrot! While the thick-billed parrot used to be one of only two parrot species native to the United States, only a few remain in the wilds of Mexico. The San Diego Zoo is working with its partners in Mexico to restore the species, and the conservation efforts are making a difference. Tune in to learn more about their unique personalities, how the thick-billed parrot’s eating habits help forests and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Orchids: Resilient, Yet Endangered

2025/07/31

The San Diego Zoo is home to several critically endangered species, and not just animals. We’re talking about plants, too! This week, hosts Rick and Marco speak with Zoo Horticulture Manager Christy Powell and Senior Plant Propagator Heinfried Block about orchids. You can find orchids on every continent except Antarctica, however conditions need to be just right—including having a special fungus around. Find out how our team is saving, protecting, and caring for orchids, the importance of symbiosis, and how you can visit the Orchid House. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elephant Conservation

2025/07/18

This week, hosts Rick and Marco speak with Dr. Kirstie Ruppert and Dr. Shifra Goldenberg about human and elephant conflict and coexistence. African elephants are invaluable to ecosystems and hold great cultural importance to Kenyans, but sometimes communities come into conflict with these giant mammals. Our guests talk about adaptability training and ways to balance the behavior of elephants and the needs of humans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giant Panda Update

2025/07/04

California Panda Day is coming up on August 8th, so hosts Rick and Marco are headed to the Denny Sanford Panda Ridge to get an update on everyone’s favorite black and white bears at the San Diego Zoo. This week, they are speaking with Senior Wildlife Care Specialist Jessica Wagner about caring for Xin Bao and Yun Chuan. Tune in to learn about their pseudo thumbs, their behaviors, and how many pounds of food they can eat in a day (hint: it’s a lot)! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giraffes: Long Necks, Long Legs, and a Long List of Amazing Adaptations

2025/06/20

Did you know the longest day of the year in the western hemisphere—June 21—is also World Giraffe Day? In this episode, hosts Rick and Marco visit giraffes on the savanna at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and speak with wildlife care specialist Natalie Sheridan to find out more about the world’s tallest land animal. Tune in to hear about adaptations that help giraffes thrive on the savannas of Africa, their unique behaviors, and the functions of their amazing spots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zoos, Conservation and the Przewalski's Horse

2025/06/06

Having never been successfully domesticated, the Przewalski's horse is the only true wild horse of our time. This week, hosts Rick and Marco are speaking with Amanda Lussier about the Przewalski's horse and how the species went from being extinct in the wild to having populations reintroduced in Mongolia. Tune in to learn more about these horses and how zoos, conservation work, and science are helping save these amazing horses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curating the Coldest “Zoo” on Earth

2025/05/23

In this episode, hosts Rick and Marco are headed back to the Frozen Zoo® to speak with its curator, Marlys Houck. This first-of-its-kind biobank began with a cell, and over the past 50 years it has grown to be the most extensive collection of its kind in the world, preserving living cell lines of mammals, birds, reptiles, aquatic wildlife, plants, and more. Discover how the trailblazing Frozen Zoo is preserving hope for the future of life on Earth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podcast reviews

Read Amazing Wildlife: A San Diego Zoo Podcast podcast reviews

4.6 out of 5

226 reviews

★★★★★

TheRealBabyGorgeous 2026/01/30

🤩 A must listen

I learn so much each time I tune in. Thanks for putting this together and for your dedication to loving and protecting our world's wild animals.

★★★☆☆

AreJay1111 2026/02/02

Found Rick!

Not sure what happened, but if you have been a fan of SD Zoo for a while you know Rick had been the spokesperson for a long time. He’s been MIA, but I...

★★★★★

Gffvbgffvggyhnkigg 2025/11/04

Willow

I learned so much thank you for making this podcast it is so good!!!

★★★★☆

allenmbutler 2025/11/28

Where is Rick?

This is the second time this Podcast has lost a host without any explanation. I think loyal listeners who have been committed to this podcast and to S...

★☆☆☆☆

Ohleeander 2025/11/17

Gorilla -Not for children

I have listened to these podcasts for awhile and have always enjoyed them. Until today. While learning about gorillas at safari park the interviewer f...

★★★★★

!….!qa 2025/07/23

Such a good podcast

It is so good and I listen to it all the time. It is for everyone in age. Highly recommend it.

★★★★☆

RhinoGirl4550 2025/10/15

I love rhinos

So I learned soooo much about rhinos and it changed the way I think about them. I really want to learn more about them. Tell me more! 👍🙃😉✌️👻🎃💀�...

★★★★★

JadeBarbarian 2025/06/04

Must-Listen for Wildlife Lovers

I love this show! The format is fairly standard but changes things up enough to keep it fresh. It covers specific species each episode, covering inter...

★★★★★

DJ double dip 2025/05/27

Love animals

To good to be true 😝

★★★☆☆

BTU2 2025/04/03

Cool 🐼🐒🐣🐺🫎🦋🐙🦑🦧🐆🦏🐪🦍

This is a good podcast I’m a huge I mean huge animal lover so this podcast was good to help me learn stuff that I didn’t know already lots of animal p...

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