Welcome to The Wild Life, the podcast where we explore the wonders of the natural world and the science that helps us understand it. In this episode, we have an extraordinary guest: Aidan Branney. When we first recorded this interview nearly a year ago, Aidan was working as the large carnivore scientific aid for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Today, he’s a Presidential Research Fellow at the University of Georgia, where he studies large carnivores including lions, leopards, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas in Etosha National Park in Namibia.

In this episode, we delve into Aidan's fascinating educational and professional journey, his work on ocelots in Texas, and his research on coyotes, black bears, and bobcats. We'll explore what defines carnivores and the complex challenge of balancing ecological needs with stakeholder interests. Aidan shares insights into estimating populations and monitoring changes in these majestic animals, and we'll discuss how to maintain hope and persevere in a world where conservation efforts often feel like trying to slow a leaking dam with duct tape.

Join us as we venture into the wild world of carnivore ecology with Aidan Branney, uncovering the science, the struggles, and the triumphs of studying and protecting some of the planet's most charismatic creatures.

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