Show notes

Title: My Wrinkly Flatmate: Shar Pei Fever, Genes and Grief
Length: 18:20

In this special, more personal episode of Barks and Biomes, Helen reflects on the first anniversary of her Shar Pei’s passing and on the dog who quietly shaped her path into animal science, microbiome curiosity and science communication. This episode moves between lived experience and veterinary science, exploring Shar Pei fever, SPAID genetics, PRA, heart disease, bloat, instinct and the strange way grief can keep a beloved animal close long after they’re gone.

There isn’t a day in the year when he isn’t still felt in some way — in memory, in that imagined huff, in the comfort that some bonds don’t really disappear. That emotional thread sits alongside a deeper look at how extreme breeding, inflammatory disease and comparative medicine connect one wrinkly dog to much bigger One Health questions.

In this episode

 The episode opens with a personal reflection on loss, memory, and why this story matters so much on both emotional and scientific levels.

 The story goes back to the beginning: moving to a new country alone, choosing a dog, meeting a breeder, and falling fully into the Shar Pei world.

 The episode explores what people mean by a “primitive‑type” dog and how that showed up in one calm, cat‑like, stubborn, deeply intuitive Shar Pei companion.

 The focus shifts to breed history: the near‑collapse of the Shar Pei population, the small founder pool, the Matgo Law rescue appeal, and how selection for wrinkles and extreme type helped preserve the breed but also increased disease risk.

Helen explains Shar Pei fever and the wider Shar Pei Autoinflammatory Disease (SPAID) complex: recurrent fevers, swollen hocks, inflammation, amyloidosis risk and the lived reality of managing a hereditary periodic fever syndrome.

The episode breaks down the genetics in accessible language, including hyaluronic acid/hyaluronan as a sugar‑based glycosaminoglycan found in skin, joints, eyes and the extracellular matrix, and the role of the HAS2 duplication in both wrinkles and inflammatory risk.

The conversation widens into comparative medicine, looking at why Shar Pei fever has been discussed alongside Familial Mediterranean Fever in humans, and how similar clinical syndromes can arise through different biological pathways.

The episode turns practical: anti‑inflammatory diet, calm environment, early monitoring, infections, allergies, kidneys and the detective work of figuring out what helps a particular dog.

The story moves through PRA and MMVD, and into a bigger lesson about not living entirely in fear of the condition you expect most.

 Helen shares the hardest part of the story: losing him to bloat, the unanswered microbiome questions that linger, and the lesson of learning to trust instinct when you know your dog deeply.

 The episode ends by bringing the science up to date, covering modern SPAID genetic risk testing, including HAS2‑linked and MTBP‑linked tests, and what they can and cannot tell owners and breeders.

 The closing returns to grief, gratitude and the idea that behind every diagnosis there is still a relationship, a life and a whole ecosystem of biology and love.

Why this matters

Shar Pei fever is no longer just seen as “bad luck in a wrinkly dog.” Research has linked the condition to regulatory changes near HAS2, which increase hyaluronan production and help explain why the same biology that creates the breed’s signature skin folds can also contribute to autoinflammatory disease. Clinical resources now describe SPAID as a broader syndrome that can include fever, arthritis, skin disease, otitis and systemic amyloidosis, and newer work has added associated markers such as MTBP to the picture.

This makes the Shar Pei an important example of the trade‑offs that can emerge when extreme physical traits are selected within a restricted gene pool. It also makes the breed relevant far beyond dog breeding, because Shar Pei fever has been discussed as a comparative model for human periodic fever syndromes and amyloid‑linked inflammatory disease.

Links and resources

• Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Centre – Shar-Pei Autoinflammatory Disease (SPAID): Cornell SPAID page
  
  
  vet.cornell
• Cornell announcement on SPAID testing:
  AHDC now offering new test for SPAID
  
  
  vet.cornell
• PLoS Genetics paper on the HAS2 duplication:
  Olsson et al. 2011
  
  
  journals.plos
• PubMed entry for the HAS2 study:
  PubMed – HAS2 duplication in Chinese Shar-Pei dogs
  
  
  pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih
• MSD Veterinary Manual – Shar-Pei Fever:
  MSD Vet Manual
  
  
  msdvetmanual
• Shar Pei as a model for human Mediterranean fever:
  PubMed – Chinese Shar-Pei dogs: a model for human Mediterranean fever?
  
  
  pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih
• Labogen SPAID test information:
  Labogen SPAID test
  
  
  labogen
• Embark overview of Shar-Pei Autoinflammatory Disease:
  Embark SPAID overview
  
  
  embarkvet
• Dr Linda Tintle background and Shar Pei health resource:
  HyVitality / Dr Linda Tintle
  
  
  hyvitality
• Dr Linda Tintle client information PDF on hyaluronosis and SPAID:
  SPAID information PDF
  
  
  drlindatintle

Disclaimer

This episode and these notes are for education and reflection only. They do not replace individual veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If a Shar Pei has recurrent fevers, limping, swollen hocks, skin inflammation or unexplained pain, veterinary assessment is important.

Show Notes: Microplastics in the Pet Bowl

This episode explores how microplastics move from the wider environment into livestock systems and pet food, and why that matters for animal health, food systems, and the One Health conversation.[1][2][3] It focuses on what is known, what is still uncertain, and how listeners can think about the issue without drifting into panic or overstatement.[2][3][4]

Episode overview

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, while nanoplastics are even smaller fragments that may cross biological barriers more easily.[1][5] Research now shows that these particles are present across agricultural systems, including livestock feed, faeces, milk, meat, blood, and commercially available pet foods.[6][7][8][9][2][10]

A 2026 UK study of 38 pet food products found microplastics in 76% of products and across 84% of brands tested.[2][10] The same work reported higher contamination in cheaper “value” products and found that pet foods often contained higher concentrations than many human foods studied so far.[2][10]

 Key points from the episode

- Microplastics in animal diets may come from multiple sources, including contaminated raw ingredients, processing equipment, food-contact materials, and packaging.[11][2][3]
- The current evidence does not show that packaging is the only source of contamination in pet food, and the 2026 study could not assign contamination to one stage of production.[2][3][4]
- Reviews of livestock and poultry systems report microplastics in feed, with some studies finding 36–300 particles per kilogram of feed in certain settings.[7][9][12]
- Plastic particles have also been detected in livestock faeces, suggesting ingestion and excretion are occurring routinely in production systems.[9][12]
- A Dutch pilot study detected plastic particles in livestock feed, milk, meat, and blood, suggesting that at least some particles or associated compounds may move beyond the gut.[8]

 New research worth noting

Recent rumen research from a team including scientists at the University of Helsinki found that tested microplastics did not remain inert in the rumen.[13][14][15] Instead, they interacted with the microbial ecosystem, altered fermentation patterns, and appeared to be partially broken down into smaller fragments by rumen microbes.[13][14][15]

A 2026 study using polystyrene microplastics in dairy cow feed similarly reported reduced gas production and altered volatile fatty acid profiles, again pointing to disrupted rumen fermentation.[16] The same work suggested rumen microbes were capable of partially degrading polystyrene into smaller chemical components.[16]

At the cellular level, recent experimental work has reported nanoplastic uptake in farm-animal cells associated with reproduction and muscle growth, raising early questions about potential impacts on fertility, development, and food production.[17][18] These are early-warning findings from experimental systems rather than proof of real-world damage on farms.[17][18]

 What remains uncertain

The health significance of microplastics in pet food is still not clear.[3][4] The UK Pet Food industry body has noted that the 2026 pet food study identified contamination but did not assess health outcomes, while regulators such as the US FDA say available evidence does not yet demonstrate clear harm at typical exposure levels in food.[3][4]

That uncertainty matters because media narratives around microplastics can shape public anxiety as much as scientific evidence does.[19][20] A careful interpretation is that the contamination signal is real, but the dose-response relationships, long-term health outcomes, and most important contamination routes still need better study.[2][3][4]

Practical listener takeaways

- Avoid panic; the research points to a real contamination issue, but not to a simple instruction to stop feeding commercial pet food.[3][4]
- Think about total plastic contact in a pet’s environment, including bowls, toys, packaging, and storage conditions.[3]
- Replace visibly damaged plastic bowls and toys when practical.
- Store pet food in cool, dry conditions and avoid exposing bags or trays to excessive heat for long periods.[3]
- Watch for future research that separates ingredient contamination from packaging and processing effects.[11][2][3]



- “According to a 2026 University of Sussex and University of Exeter study, microplastics were found in about three-quarters of the pet foods tested.”[2][10]
- “Very recent rumen work involving the University of Helsinki suggests microplastics are not inert in the rumen and can disrupt fermentation.”[13][14]
- “Regulators say the evidence does not yet prove harm at typical food exposure levels, but they also accept this is an emerging field.”[3][4]

 Source links

- [University of Sussex summary of the 2026 pet food study](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/70901)[2]
- [Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Microplastic prevalence in commercially available petfoods](https://academic.oup.com/etc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/etojnl/vgag130/8692434)[10]
- [FDA: Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Foods]https://www.fda.gov/food/environmental-contaminants-food/microplastics-and-nanoplastics-foods)[3]
- [University of Helsinki news on rumen microbiome disruption]https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/animals/microplastics-disrupt-gut-microbiome-and-fermentation-farm-animals-study-reveals-new-risks)[13]
- [Potential Biological Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Farm Animals](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12108168/)[17]
- [The sources and impact of microplastic intake on livestock and poultry production systems](https://www.publish.csiro.au/an/an25022)[12]

If you like this podcast, please like, follow and share it. Thank you x

In this episode, I explore the microscopic world of plankton – the drifting organisms that underpin marine food webs and help produce the oxygen we breathe.
 We look at phytoplankton and zooplankton, their role in food chains, climate regulation, and why changing oceans make these “invisible” communities so important to understand.

Key topics in this episode

·       What plankton are and why “drifters” matter.

·       Phytoplankton as primary producers and oxygen sources.

·       Zooplankton and food chains from microscopic to fish, birds and marine mammals.bbc+1

·       Plankton, carbon cycling and climate.whoi+2

Threats: climate change, harmful algal blooms and changing plankton communities. 

• If this episode helped you see plankton and plastic differently, share it with someone who cares about ocean health or teaches biology or environmental science.
• I’d love to hear your thoughts on plankton as bioindicators, microplastics and One Health – send your questions or suggestions for future episodes focusing on animal nutrition, microbiomes and environmental toxicology. 

Disclaimer

The information in this episode is based on ongoing studies, emerging research and my own interpretations as an animal science student. I do my best to stay balanced and reflect the current evidence, but the science around microplastics and nanoplastics is still developing.

This podcast is for education and curiosity. It is not medical, nutritional or veterinary advice, and it is not intended to cause worry or anxiety. If you or your animals have health concerns or symptoms, please speak to a qualified health or veterinary professional who can assess your specific situation. 

Thank you for listening

July Is a Global Plastic-Free Month – Microplastics, Nanoplastics, Nutrition and Your Microbiome

Episode length note: This is a slightly longer pod than usual, with deep dives into cell biology, gene expression, microplastics and nanoplastics, and what this means for nutrition and microbiomes around the 18:42 mark.

Tiny plastics are reaching our gut microbiome – and July’s the perfect time to talk about it. In this episode, I talk about realistic habits and swaps rather than perfection, and how small changes across many people can shift demand and encourage better production.
Key topics covered 

In the middle section of the episode, we explore:

How DNA, RNA and gene expression work as the information pathway from bases to proteins.
Why nanoplastics are small enough to enter cells and potentially interact with DNA, mitochondria and hormone systems.
How micro- and nanoplastics can reach organs including the gut, liver, lungs, heart, reproductive tissues and possibly the brain.
Emerging evidence that plastics may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption and microbiome dysbiosis across species.
Why most current data comes from high-dose in vitro and animal studies, and why we need better chronic, real-world exposure models.

Supporting research and further reading
These are open-access or accessible papers and articles you can read if you want to dive deeper into microplastics, nanoplastics and health:

Toxicokinetics and how particles move through the body

• Chen C‑Y & Lin Z (2024). Exploring the potential and challenges of developing physiologically-based toxicokinetic models to support human health risk assessment of microplastic and nanoplastic particles. Environment International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108617
  
  – Proposes a preliminary toxicokinetic model for micro- and nanoplastics and highlights how polymer type, size, shape and surface chemistry affect where particles go and how long they stay.
  
  
• Jeong J et al. (2024). Integrating aggregate exposure pathway and adverse outcome pathway for micro/nanoplastics: A review on exposure, toxicokinetics, and toxicity studies. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116022
  
  – Reviews exposure routes, movement in the body, and toxicity studies for micro/nanoplastics in humans and wildlife.
  
  

Inhalation and lung effects
Borgatta M & Breider F (2024). Inhalation of Microplastics – A Toxicological Complexity. Toxics. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050358

Food Packaging Forum article: What happens to micro- and nanoplastics in the body?
https://foodpackagingforum.org/news/what-happens-to-micro-and-nanoplastics-in-the-body


Cellular effects and organs

• Braun A & Seitz H (2024). Uptake and Cellular Effects of Polymethylmethacrylate on Human Cell Lines. Microplastics. https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics3020012
  
  – Explores how a common plastic (PMMA) is taken up by human cells and what it does at a cellular level.

Contact and listener questions

If you have questions, stories or ideas for future episodes, I’d love to hear from you.
You can email me at:

Email: [email protected]

I’m happy to pick up listener questions in later episodes, just like the question from Sally in Stoneleigh about reducing plastic cups.

Thank you so much for listening, especially to this slightly longer episode.If you enjoyed it or learned something new:

• Please like this episode on your podcast app.
• Follow or subscribe to Barks and Biomes so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on plastics, nutrition and microbiomes.
• Share the episode with a friend, colleague or fellow animal science/wildlife lover who might find it useful.

Disclaimer

The information in this episode is based on ongoing studies, emerging research and my own interpretations as an animal science student. I do my best to stay balanced and reflect the current evidence, but the science around microplastics and nanoplastics is still developing.

This podcast is for education and curiosity. It is not medical, nutritional or veterinary advice, and it is not intended to cause worry or anxiety. If you or your animals have health concerns or symptoms, please speak to a qualified health or veterinary professional who can assess your specific situation. I am not affiliated in any way with the organisation.

Thank you for listening.

July Is a Global Plastic-Free Month – Microplastics, Nanoplastics, Nutrition and Your Microbiome

Episode length note: This is a slightly longer pod than usual, with deep dives into cell biology, gene expression, microplastics and nanoplastics, and what this means for nutrition and microbiomes around the 18:42 mark.

Tiny plastics are reaching our gut microbiome – and July’s the perfect time to talk about it. In this episode, I talk about realistic habits and swaps rather than perfection, and how small changes across many people can shift demand and encourage better production.
Key topics covered 

In the middle section of the episode, we explore:

How DNA, RNA and gene expression work as the information pathway from bases to proteins.
Why nanoplastics are small enough to enter cells and potentially interact with DNA, mitochondria and hormone systems.
How micro- and nanoplastics can reach organs including the gut, liver, lungs, heart, reproductive tissues and possibly the brain.
Emerging evidence that plastics may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption and microbiome dysbiosis across species.
Why most current data comes from high-dose in vitro and animal studies, and why we need better chronic, real-world exposure models.

Supporting research and further reading
These are open-access or accessible papers and articles you can read if you want to dive deeper into microplastics, nanoplastics and health:

Toxicokinetics and how particles move through the body

• Chen C‑Y & Lin Z (2024). Exploring the potential and challenges of developing physiologically-based toxicokinetic models to support human health risk assessment of microplastic and nanoplastic particles. Environment International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108617
  
  – Proposes a preliminary toxicokinetic model for micro- and nanoplastics and highlights how polymer type, size, shape and surface chemistry affect where particles go and how long they stay.
  
  
• Jeong J et al. (2024). Integrating aggregate exposure pathway and adverse outcome pathway for micro/nanoplastics: A review on exposure, toxicokinetics, and toxicity studies. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116022
  
  – Reviews exposure routes, movement in the body, and toxicity studies for micro/nanoplastics in humans and wildlife.
  
  

Inhalation and lung effects
Borgatta M & Breider F (2024). Inhalation of Microplastics – A Toxicological Complexity. Toxics. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050358

Food Packaging Forum article: What happens to micro- and nanoplastics in the body?
https://foodpackagingforum.org/news/what-happens-to-micro-and-nanoplastics-in-the-body


Cellular effects and organs

• Braun A & Seitz H (2024). Uptake and Cellular Effects of Polymethylmethacrylate on Human Cell Lines. Microplastics. https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics3020012
  
  – Explores how a common plastic (PMMA) is taken up by human cells and what it does at a cellular level.

Contact and listener questions

If you have questions, stories or ideas for future episodes, I’d love to hear from you.
You can email me at:

Email: [email protected]

I’m happy to pick up listener questions in later episodes, just like the question from Sally in Stoneleigh about reducing plastic cups.

Thank you so much for listening, especially to this slightly longer episode.If you enjoyed it or learned something new:

• Please like this episode on your podcast app.
• Follow or subscribe to Barks and Biomes so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on plastics, nutrition and microbiomes.
• Share the episode with a friend, colleague or fellow animal science/wildlife lover who might find it useful.

Disclaimer

The information in this episode is based on ongoing studies, emerging research and my own interpretations as an animal science student. I do my best to stay balanced and reflect the current evidence, but the science around microplastics and nanoplastics is still developing.

This podcast is for education and curiosity. It is not medical, nutritional or veterinary advice, and it is not intended to cause worry or anxiety. If you or your animals have health concerns or symptoms, please speak to a qualified health or veterinary professional who can assess your specific situation. I am not affiliated in any way with the organisation.

Thank you for listening.

Podcast: Barks and Biomes
Season: 1
Episode: 4 – Now and Superpowers
Length: 7:34

In this bite‑sized episode of Barks and Biomes, Helen takes you on a twilight dog walk to explore what it means to share the present moment with an animal and leave your phone – the “third walker” – in your pocket. As breath, footsteps and smells come into focus, we’re reminded how time in green spaces, shared air, and shared soil can support both human and canine resilience and microbiomes.
The story then jumps to a child’s bedroom full of plastic superheroes and out into the wild to meet the real super‑species around us: mimic octopus that copy lionfish, dogs that can sniff cancer, migratory birds navigating by Earth’s magnetic field, bats echolocating, electric eels, axolotls that regrow limbs, wood frogs with natural antifreeze, and hummingbirds pulling off impossible flight. All of them depend on food, energy and intact habitats, raising the question of how our everyday choices – from plastic use to how present we are on a walk – help or hinder these neighbours.

Helen closes with an invitation to mark Plastic Free July by choosing one small change to support the real “superheroes” we share the planet with, and to spend at least one walk fully present with your dog.

“Further reading” 

Owlstone Medical (2024) ‘Smelling cancer: how medical detection dogs can inspire breath biopsy’, Owlstone Medical Blog, 8 September. Available at: https://www.owlstonemedical.com/about/blog/2024/sep/smelling-cancer-medical-detection-dogs-breath-biopsy 

National Geographic (2018) ‘Mimic octopus facts’, National Geographic Animals. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/mimic-octopus.

Liddicoat, C. et al. (2024) ‘Green space exposure and human microbiota: a systematic review’, Environment International. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024002484.

ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?
Please share it with a friend or fellow animal lover, follow Barks & Biomes on Facebook, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really does help the show grow – thank you so much.
Disclaimer 

Barks and Biomes is for education and storytelling only. The stories and examples in this episode are Helen’s own, and any science mentioned comes from published research and trusted sources listed in the show notes. This podcast is not a substitute for medical, nutritional or veterinary advice – always speak to a qualified professional about your own or your animals’ health.

Barks and Biomes – Season 1, Episode 3: Flight or Fight
Length: 13:11

In this episode, Helen explores the biology of fight or flight through the eyes of prey animals, predators and people. From a grazing deer and a stalking lion to exams, crowded trains and everyday stress, this episode looks at how the nervous system responds to danger and why ancient survival pathways still shape modern anxiety. Helen also reflects on cortisol, chronic stress, behaviour, the microbiome and what humans can learn from animals about returning to calm, balance and the present moment.

ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?
Please share it with a friend or fellow animal lover, follow Barks & Biomes on Facebook, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really does help the show grow – thank you so much.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of anxiety, stress responses and PTSD-like effects in humans and animals. It does not include detailed descriptions of self-harm or violence. This podcast is for information and storytelling purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological or veterinary advice. If you are struggling with anxiety or low mood, please speak to your GP or a qualified health professional. In the UK, you can contact Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.

Disclaimer 

Barks and Biomes is for education and storytelling only. The stories and examples in this episode are Helen’s own, and any science mentioned comes from published research and trusted sources listed in the show notes. This podcast is not a substitute for medical, nutritional or veterinary advice – always speak to a qualified professional about your own or your animals’ health.

BARKS & BIOMES
Episode 2– The Power of Connection: Community, Longevity, and a Very Unlikely Friendship in the Amazon
Runtime: 14 mins 13 secs

In this episode Helen explores how community shapes health – in humans, dogs, and even wild animals. From a small Italian-American town where neighbourly connection seemed to protect hearts, to Okinawan moai friendship groups, we look at why strong social ties sit alongside food and movement as a key piece of the longevity puzzle. Helen then dives into the gut–brain axis to unpack how stress and loneliness can disturb our microbiome and mood chemicals like serotonin, GABA and dopamine – and how life with a dog, plus a good dog park chat, might help bring things back into balance. Finally, we travel to the Peruvian Amazon, where camera traps have caught an ocelot and an opossum calmly strolling together at night, hinting at a surprising cross-species partnership and reminding us how much of social life in nature we still have to discover.

LINKS & REFERENCES

1. The Roseto Effect – social ties and the 50% survival figure (Isa Robinson Nutrition):
   https://isarobinsonnutrition.co.uk/blog/rosetoeffect
2. The Roseto Effect – meta-analyses and survival statistics explained (Ali Zaidi MD):
   https://www.alizaidimd.com/post/the-rosetto-effect
3. Palo Alto teen suicide cluster – CDC investigation (ABC News):
   https://abcnews.go.com/Health/disturbing-suicide-cluster-prompts-cdc-start-investigation-palo/story?id=36953874
4. Ocelots and opossums in the Peruvian Amazon – the original research paper:
   Camerlenghi et al. (2025). Beyond predator and prey: first evidence of an association between ocelot and opossum individuals. Ecosphere.
   https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70322

ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?
Please share it with a friend or fellow animal lover, follow Barks & Biomes on Facebook, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really does help the show grow – thank you so much.

DISCLAIMER
The content of Barks & Biomes is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice. Helen is an animal science student, not a qualified clinician. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a diagnosis for you or your pet. Always consult a qualified GP, registered nutritionist, holistic health practitioner, or vet before making any changes to your own or your pet's health, diet, or supplement routine.

Barks and Biomes – Season 1, Episode 1: Welcome
Length: 13:11

In this welcome episode of Barks and Biomes, Helen asks a deceptively simple question: what is the “best” food for pets, people and wildlife if we care about health, longevity and the planet we share? From muddy English country lanes and Amazon rivers to Florida’s algae‑closed beaches, she weaves together stories of dogs, jaguars and humans to show how invisible microbiomes, land use and deforestation connect our bowls, our bodies and our biomes. As a mature animal science student, Helen shares why she started the podcast, why nutrition and microbes are fundamental to life on Earth, and how tech, tradition and natural behaviour all intersect in animal and human wellbeing. She closes with a happy  fact about stingless bees in Peru gaining legal protection, and invites you to join a community that’s curious, compassionate and ready to rethink what we feed, how we live, and how we protect the ecosystems that keep us alive.

EcoJurisprudence (2025) ‘Perú National Law: stingless bees a matter of national interest’, EcoJurisprudence Monitor, 8 January. Available at: https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/peru-national-law-stingless-bees-a-matter-of-national-interest/

ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?
Please share it with a friend or fellow animal lover, follow Barks & Biomes on Facebook, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really does help the show grow – thank you so much.

Disclaimer 

Barks and Biomes is for education and storytelling only. The stories and examples in this episode are Helen’s own, and any science mentioned comes from published research and trusted sources listed in the show notes. This podcast is not a substitute for medical, nutritional or veterinary advice – always speak to a qualified professional about your own or your animals’ health.