Extinct & Back

The 1995 reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park sparked both controversy and an unprecedented cascade of ecological changes. This episode examines the complex planning behind the wolf reintroduction, from capturing Canadian wolves to selecting release sites and managing human-wildlife conflict. Our hosts analyze the dramatic ecosystem changes triggered by the wolves' return, including the restoration of riparian habitats, changes in elk behavior, and the rebounding of beaver

When disease decimated the last known population of black-footed ferrets, scientists froze tissue samples from a female named Willa in 1988. Decades later, these cells became the key to introducing vital genetic diversity through cloning. Our hosts explore the groundbreaking collaboration between US Fish & Wildlife Service and pet cloning company ViaGen Pets that produced Elizabeth Ann, the first cloned endangered species in North America. The episode delves into the complexities of genetic rescue,

The Arabian oryx became extinct in the wild in 1972, surviving only in private collections and zoos. This episode chronicles the unprecedented international collaboration that gathered the last remaining oryx from global collections to establish a founding population in Phoenix Zoo. Our hosts analyze the challenges of breeding desert-adapted ungulates in captivity, the political negotiations required for reintroduction in Oman's Jiddat al-Harasis, and the innovative tracking methods developed to

In 1987, the last wild California condor was captured, leaving just 27 individuals in existence. Through an unprecedented captive breeding program at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and Los Angeles Zoo, conservationists embarked on a high-stakes mission to save this ancient species. Our hosts examine the revolutionary techniques developed to hatch and rear chicks without human imprinting, the genetic management strategies that prevented inbreeding depression, and the groundbreaking release protocols