Cougar Rewilding with John Laundre
February 11, 2019
Hosted by Eli Weiss
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
With returning guest cougar behaviorist and ecologist John Laundré, we examine how recolonization of cougars in the Eastern United States could happen and why reintroducing cougars would not only be a sound decision from a scientific and ecological perspective but would also have a positive effect on society by reducing the exploding deer and elk populations and the negative impacts that arise such as deer-car collisions and increased cases of Lyme disease. The science is clear that carnivores have stabilizing effects on ecosystems, but the social and political will is lacking as we have lived for so long without them. Sport and Hunter-led policies of management to increase game-species without apex predators, is nothing short of an ecological crime. Apex predators are essential to ecosystem health and sustainability of North America’s wildlife and habitats and without them we face unparalleled trophic cascades with severe consequences.
Our Wild World
Monday at 8 AM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
An informative and lively opportunity for listeners of all ages to learn about and raise awareness of contemporary challenges in wildlife and environmental conservation, both in Africa and parallels in the U.S., while also providing direct avenues to a variety of projects to personally take action and get involved.
While our project focus covers sub-Saharan Africa, the results of what we accomplish have global impacts, and further, how we choose to live daily will have impacts upon the future of Africa, our world’s wildlife and people. Our topics will cover a variety of themes including current news, what you can do now, what conservation and sustainability actually mean, how poverty impacts sustainablilty, foreign aid, book reviews, animal behavior, photography, living with wildlife in your back yard, interviews with renowned experts, and your questions and answers. Our Wild World is broadcast live every Monday at 8 AM Pacific Time on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.
Eli Weiss
A photographer, philanthropist and Wildlife Conservationist, Eli Weiss grew up in Illinois, Wyoming and Colorado, attended university in Colorado and the UK, and after spending time in Aspen from 1963-1979 she settled in Woody Creek, where, in 2000 she founded the non-profit WildiZe Foundation. In Founding Wildize, Weiss was able to combine her love of photography, art, nature, environmental ethics and conservation in such a way as to benefit our planet. The Foundation serves individuals and educational institutions dedicated to the conservation of wildlife, wildlife habitats and the indigenous cultures of Africa and raises awareness through on-the-ground projects and education both in Africa and the United States. Their mission is to establish direct relationships to projects in sub-Saharan Africa, offering targeted grant funding that support conservation efforts, educational programs and sustainable indigenous economies. Several times per year, Weiss visits the Foundation's grantees across sub-Saharan Africa, developing ongoing programs and building new, long-term relationships. Weiss has worked with experts and leaders in the field of conservation, administering over 2.5 million dollars of public and private grant funding across 75 grantees from specialists to community groups, giving her a well-rounded depth of knowledge critical to raising awareness of the various issues and toward implementing solid solutions based on science, the environment and culture.
