This episode of Conservation Conversations we Talk with Sanjana Ramesh, a Project Dragonfly student and WWF employee. We talk about conservation in India, the organizations she’s started and the work she looks to do this summer while studying in india. 
Enjoy our conversation with sanjana!

Please check out @dc_saeg on instgram to see how you can help.  

Hosts is Austin Parker
Producer is Austin Parker
Music was provided by A Picture Book studio

Don't forget to like comment and subscribe if you want to help
We’ll talk to you next time!

This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Tidal Influence, a Californian ecological consulting firm who proudly supports environmental education and all of the diverse conservation efforts that Pelecanus works to highlight. Visit their website at www.tidalinfluence.com to learn more about what they do to conserve our coastal resources and how you can get involved

Exploring Conservation In India and Beyond with Sanjana Ramesh

Awards
San Diego Zoo, Safari Park win prestigious botanic gardens award
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/06/its-not-all-about-the-animals-san-diego-zoo-safari-park-win-prestigious-botanic-gardens-award/
Clean!
Parisians take a historic plunge into the River Seine after more than a century
https://apnews.com/article/paris-seine-river-swimming-4ba28e3b0c9c224a1811f538df2a208e
In Zion National Park, ‘the Smog Is Gone’
https://www.dailygood.org/news/?nid=5104
Rewilding
Arizona Game and Fish is using beavers to help restore wetland habitats
https://www.kjzz.org/science/2025-07-04/arizona-game-and-fish-is-using-beavers-to-help-restore-wetland-habitats
Georgia's bald eagle population takes flight as rebound continues years after near extinction
https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/07/04/georgias-bald-eagle-population-takes-flight-as-rebound-continues-years-after-near-extinction/
“Bird of Legend” reappears in Malaysia after more than a century
https://www.birdlife.org/news/2025/07/07/bird-of-legend-reappears-in-malaysia-after-more-than-a-century/


NEWS July 15 2025

On today’s Conservation Conversations episode we talk with Rosanna Xia. Rosanna is an author, documentary filmmaker and environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she specializes in stories about the coast and ocean. Her new book called California Against the Sea is out now wherever you purchase books, but we always like to recommend your local independent book store. Let’s get straight to our conversation with Rosanna about the future of California’s coast!

Please find her book, documentary Out of Plan Sight, and all of her work with the LA Times. She’s published so many great stories. You can find her on social media at @rosanna.xia and her website https://www.rosannaxia.com/ and help support her in getting these kinds of stories out to the world.

Host and producer is Austin Parker

Music was provided by A Picture Book studio

Don't forget to like comment and subscribe if you want to help

California Against the Sea with Rosanna Xia

Biodiversity
Jaguar population doubles around Brazil’s Iguaçu Falls
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/jaguar-population-doubles-around-brazils-iguacu-falls/
Rare pygmy hippo born in Kansas zoo offers hope for endangered species
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/rare-pygmy-hippo-born-in-kansas-zoo-offers-hope-for-endangered-species/
Experts thrilled as incredibly rare birds hatch at zoo
https://www.yahoo.com/news/experts-thrilled-incredibly-rare-birds-113044943.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWNvc2lhLm9yZy8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJ9vDCng51YwZcXjcpTcnXqTlRspKJmevErxGOdhj0OeF0LzjfAqCdf5rlehlNuCRdCeFghJ9cNnF6wEwO2XjTW0YcHdDGnQiSCu7sJ8dD4rKwXUFU5nZVmnLl3GVMwx53qu41GCSYAMTsV_zOYxEi0xyXmaMYtR_sblS6uhUAe6
Return of wolves to Yellowstone has led to a surge in aspen trees unseen for 80 years
https://www.livescience.com/animals/land-mammals/return-of-wolves-to-yellowstone-has-led-to-a-surge-in-aspen-trees-unseen-for-80-years
Nepal launches action plan to boost endangered dhole conservation
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/nepal-launches-action-plan-to-boost-endangered-dhole-conservation/


NEWS August 1 2025

Wolves
Federal court overturns decision denying Endangered Species protections to wolves
https://www.endangeredspecieslawandpolicy.com/federal-court-overturns-fish-and-wildlife-service-decision-to-delist-gray-wolf-in-the-west

Baby Endangered Species
Nashville Zoo welcomes new clouded leopard cub, helping preserve endangered species
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/nashville-zoo-welcomes-new-clouded-leopard-cub-helping-preserve-endangered-species
Brevard Zoo welcomes new baby zebra, offspring of endangered species
https://brevardzoo.org/news/welcoming-a-baby-grevys-zebra/
Czech zoo welcomes 4 rare Barbary lion cubs whose population is extinct in the wild
https://apnews.com/article/czech-zoo-barbary-lion-cubs-3376f7e3740469568fb1555260c6bd5d


NEWS August 15 2025

Biodiversity
Sniffer dogs may have rediscovered a lost population of Sumatran rhinos
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/sniffer-dogs-may-have-rediscovered-a-lost-population-of-sumatran-rhinos/
France Sees a Doubling of Eagle Mating Pairs After Decades of Successful Work
https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/france-sees-a-doubling-of-eagle-mating-pairs-after-decades-of-successful-work/
100-year-old endangered tortoises at Pa. zoo become parents of 16
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tortoise-hatchlings-born-of-century-old-parents-come-out-of-their-shells-at-philadelphia-zoo/ar-AA1KT73T
Experts thrilled as critically endangered Amur leopard makes stunning comeback -
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/experts-thrilled-critically-endangered-predator-223000616.html


NEWS September 1 2025

Technology
First onshore wave energy project in the U.S. launches in Los Angeles
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/eco-wave-energy-project-port-of-los-angeles/

Rewilding
Australian scientists release captive-bred endangered mountain frogs
https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20250908/562aab2024d1431ea28a9ff84d75e70b/c.html
‘We’re winning a battle’: Mexico’s jaguar numbers up 30% in conservation drive
https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/were-winning-a-battle-mexicos-jaguar-numbers-up-30-in-conservation-drive/#google_vignette

Rediscoveries
Small Rabbit with a Black Tail Not Seen in 120 Years Found Hopping Around Mexican Mountains
https://www.rewild.org/press/found-small-enigmatic-rabbit-with-black-tail-lost-to-science-for-more-than
Endangered pallid sturgeon discovered in Des Moines River
https://www.iowadnr.gov/news-release/2025-08-26/federally-endangered-pallid-sturgeon-discovered-iowas-des-moines-river
Mammal feared extinct was recognized from Australian magazine. Now it's thriving
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mammal-feared-extinct-was-recognized-from-australian-magazine-now-it-s-thriving/ar-AA1LTO44


NEWS September 15 2025

Welcome to a Bonus Pelecanus episode where we highlight the 2025 recipient of our Carrie Wilson Memorial Scholarship, Sanjana Ramesh. She is a graduate student with Project Dragonfly in D.C.. We did a deep dive episode with Sanjana last year and this year she is our scholarship recipient. 

Thank you so much to Sanjana for taking the time to talk with us, and for all of the amazing work she is doing. 
The Carrie Wilson Memorial Scholarship will be open for applications for project dragonfly students again in the Spring of 2026, check our Pelecanus.org scholarship page for more information. We are a 501C3 non-profit organization that takes tax deductible donations if you’d like to contribute to the Carrie Wilson memorial programs or to Pelecanus in general. 

Check out her article she mentions in the episode here:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/roots-and-wings-south-asian-women-shaping-the-future-of-conservation

Thank you again to our sponsor Tidal Influence. Check them out at tidalinfluence.com

2025 Carrie Wilson Memorial Scholarship Recipient - Sanjana Ramesh

System change
$115M gift — the largest ever for ASU — to establish School of Conservation Futures
https://news.asu.edu/20250922-environment-and-sustainability-115M-gift-largest-ever-asu-establishes-walton-school-conservation-futures
'Something is working': UN climate chief optimistic about green transition
https://www.worldenergydata.org/something-is-working-un-climate-chief-optimistic-about-green-transition/
Infrastructure
Recycled glass could help fend off coastal erosion
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/recycled-glass-fend-off-coastal-erosion
California’s First Solar Panel-Covered Canal Is Now Fully Online
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/california-first-canal-array-project-nexus
Rewild
New pack of endangered Mexican gray wolves debuts at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo
https://komonews.com/news/local/new-pack-of-endangered-mexican-gray-wolves-debuts-at-seattles-woodland-park-zoo-conservation-safe-livestock-cattle-conflict-pacific-northwest
The return of the red macaw to the Iberá Wetlands: an ecological and hopeful rebirth in Corrientes
https://noticiasambientales.com/animals/the-return-of-the-red-macaw-to-the-ibera-wetlands-an-ecological-and-hopeful-rebirth-in-corrientes/
Largest turtle nest in the world revealed in drone study
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/09/largest-turtle-nest-in-the-world-revealed-in-drone-study/


NEWS October 1 2025

On today’s Conservation Conversations episode we talk with Dr. Kelton McMahon. Dr. McMahon is an associate professor in biological oceanography and runs the ocean Ecogeochemistry lab at the University of Rhode Island graduate school of oceanography. We really dive into the science on this one, but I promise it all comes together perfectly. Enjoy our conversation with Dr. McMahon!

Please check out the Ecogeochemistry lab’s website and find Kelton on Social Media if you want to follow their work!. https://keltonmcmahon.com/ @oceanecogeochemlab 

Host and producer is Austin Parker
Music was provided by A Picture Book studio
Don't forget to like comment and subscribe if you want to help

Thank you again to the sponsor of this episode Tidal Influence. Check out their website for more information and how you can get involved: http://www.tidalinfluence.com/

Better Coastal Resilience through Ecogeochemistry with Dr. Kelton McMahon

Wins
Green turtle bounces back from brink in conservation 'win'
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg426qqqqnro
Australian Court issues major ruling impacting beloved endangered creatures: 'Today is a win'
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/court-issues-major-ruling-impacting-023000938.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWNvc2lhLm9yZy8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJ9vDCng51YwZcXjcpTcnXqTlRspKJmevErxGOdhj0OeF0LzjfAqCdf5rlehlNuCRdCeFghJ9cNnF6wEwO2XjTW0YcHdDGnQiSCu7sJ8dD4rKwXUFU5nZVmnLl3GVMwx53qu41GCSYAMTsV_zOYxEi0xyXmaMYtR_sblS6uhUAe6
Amazon Communities Deliver “Unprecedented” Conservation Wins
https://scitechdaily.com/amazon-communities-deliver-unprecedented-conservation-wins/
UNESCO Adds an Area the Size of Bolivia to Biosphere Reserve System to Protect 5% of the World's Land
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/unesco-adds-an-area-the-size-of-bolivia-to-biosphere-reserve-system-to-protect-5-of-the-worlds-land/


NEWS October 15 2025

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Pelecanus is a conservation-based collective in continuous wonder of the healing and encouragement that is possible on this planet and the people making it happen. We are committed to telling these stories and demonstrating optimism through science.