Wild Lives

If you’ve ever imagined what the world would have looked like before it was cut up for agriculture and urban life, you could do worse than to look at the work being done by rewilders, like Nick Viney.

For this episode, we took a road trip to meet Nick Viney, the creative force behind Rewilding Coombeshead, 400 acres of former farmland in southwest England that is being reclaimed by nature. Wild cats, beavers and buffalo act as ecosystem engineers, with countless species flooding back to the site. And listen out for a delightful cameo from the noisy wh...

Many of us dream of close encounters with wild animals, but Bertie Gregory has made this a reality through his stunning films for National Geographic.

As well as winning a stack of awards for his photography and filmmaking, Bertie is a National Geographic Explorer – which, as we discovered, is as cool as it sounds.

Bertie is passionate about sharing his love of nature, as we found out when we caught up with him ahead of his latest movie – Dolphins Up Close, which is available to watch now on Disney+

You can follow Bertie on I...

Have you ever wondered how to repair a coral reef? Or even if it’s possible? Well you’re not alone. And that’s why we visited Mote Marine Laboratories at Islamorada, in the Florida Keys.

We know that our coral reefs are in trouble. But the good news is that there is hope for these vital ecosystems.

We spoke to scientists whose ground-breaking work is helping to regrow the world’s third largest coral reef in a fraction of the time that nature would usually manage, armed with a hammer and a bag of nails. <...

How much difference can one person make? As this week’s guest proves, the answer is quite a lot, if you truly devote yourself to what you believe in.

Rahima Njaidi is a Tanzanian conservationist who pioneers community-led conservation, while championing gender equality and land rights.

We talked with Rahima about these complex issues, and how her direct approach is changing people’s lives on a huge scale, while also saving some of the most vital forests in Africa.

You can find out more about the Tusk Awards at their website: https://www.tusk...

Look up! You never know what you might see. Our cities have become quite literal urban jungles, as more and more wildlife is drawn to thrive in the increasingly sprawling megapolis.

In order to get a grip on what wildlife to watch out for in the city, we turned to BBC Wildlife columnist David Lindo – aka the Urban Birder – to find out how a boy from Wembley forged a career in nature.

For David, as for many people in our inner cities, there were many obstacles to overcome in his quest to immerse himself in natu...

Have you ever looked at a fly seemingly trying but failing to find its way out of an open window and wondered why it can’t figure it out? Well, if so, then you’re not alone!

To unravel the mystery and learn why it’s time we changed how we think about flies, we went to the Natural History Museum in London to meet Dr Erica McAlister, Principal Curator of Diptera and Siphonaptera – that's flies and fleas.

Flies are probably the wild animal that you see more than any other. And yet how much do you k...

Have you ever wondered how a blind person might interact with nature? After losing his sight gradually from the age of eight, Lawrence Gunther was functionally blind by his twenties. Despite this, he continued to forge a life in nature, living for a while with Inuits, where he learned so much from them about how we can thrive to the mutual benefit of both ourselves and our environment.

Today, Lawrence is North America’s only blind conservationist – a professional angler, writer, podcaster and filmmaker. In a broad-reaching conversation, we discuss sustainability, attitudes to disability, and learn about an i...

Wild Lives is the podcast from BBC Wildlife Magazine that gets you closer to the people who dedicate their lives to the natural world. We meet inspirational people across the globe – from the depths of the Amazon jungle to London’s Natural History Museum – and find out why they have contributed so much to nature.

From scientists, guides and conservationists, to writers, photographers and passionate hobbyists, we share their stories, challenges, and triumphs as they live and work alongside wildlife every day.

Join us for honest conversations, inspiring journeys, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it rea...