That Tracks, A Lincoln Park Zoo Podcast

That Tracks, A Lincoln Park Zoo Podcast

By: Lincoln Park Zoo

Language: en-us

Categories: Science, Nature

How does poop tell a welfare story? What is a great ape blood bank? Why does the zoo study cities? Tune in to Lincoln Park Zoo's new podcast, That Tracks, and find out!

Episodes

That Tracks: Horticulture is an Art and Science
Jan 09, 2026

How does the zoo care for thousands of plant species? Horticulturist Katrina explains!

0:35 Being an accredited botanic garden 
2:49 Importance of tree canopies 
3:50 Collaboration at the zoo
5:20 Taking care of plants in a zoo setting
6:20 Curating 49 acres of plants
8:30 Geographical hardiness zones explained
10:25 Seasonality and caring for plants
12:20 Planning for the future
14:40 Plants with different functions
16:20 How to be wildlife-friendly at home
18:00 Plants provide food for animals
19:30 The significance of being a free botanic garden 
21:50 The past and future of horticulture
24:00 Beautiful gardens at the zoo...

Duration: 00:25:53
That Tracks: Animal Care is Built on Trust
Dec 12, 2025

What is it like being a zookeeper? Keepers Cruz and Brittany explain! 

 

0:22 Meet Brittany and Cruz 
1:00 They journey to becoming a keeper 
3:35 Education is key to being a keeper 
4:20 A day in the life of a keeper 
6:30 Different care for different species 
9:30 How animals respond to keepers 
12:40 Trusting the animals 
16:10 Grieving animals  
21:10 Collaboration across teams 
22:55 Favorite animal stories  
24:50 How animals communicate 
27:30 Get to know Brittany and Cruzanne

Duration: 00:29:42
That Tracks: Veterinary Care is Complex
Nov 12, 2025

How does one care for hundreds of animals representing dozens of species? Lincoln Park Zoo’s lead veterinarian, Dr. Kathryn, explains!

1:04 Dr. Kathryn’s background
1:30 The path to be a veterinarian
3:33 The breadth of veterinary work
5:20 Being flexible for different situations
6:35 Modeling to treat various species
11:00 Preventative exams
13:50 The future of veterinary medicine
17:05 Blood banking for great apes
22:10 Lincoln Park Zoo veterinary residency program
25:45 Who is Dr. Kathryn?

Duration: 00:27:32
That Tracks: Conservation is About People
Oct 07, 2025

Bali mynas as canaries in the coal mine? Conservationist Sunny Nelson explains.

0:40 Sunny's career start
1:50 The switch from care to conservation
3:30 Lincoln Park Zoo's global impact
5:25 Conservation stories across different communities
6:50 Different tactics for conservation for diverse communities
8:55 Working with scientists
10:45 How Bali mynas inspired Sunny
12:55 What is a Bali myna?
14:30 Poaching as an umbrella term
16:00 Trafficking can happen in our own backyard
16:55 Wildlife trafficking
18:30 Research is essential to stop wildlife trafficking
20:22 What is CITES
23:30 Lincoln Park Zoo's care of trafficked species
27:30 Get...

Duration: 00:29:37
That Tracks: Food Supports Animal Happiness
Sep 03, 2025

How do you feed 700+ animals? Nutritionist Siga Lapinskas explains!

Duration: 00:27:34