Back From the Brink, from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom

The endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle lives in just one place on Earth: the saline wetlands north of Lincoln, Nebraska. By the early 2000s, only 150 known adults remained. On this episode, Dr. Rae sits down with Jeff Ewelt, chief zoological officer at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. @JefftheNatureGuy explains the beetle's bizarre two-year life cycle spent almost entirely underground, the coalition of zoos, universities and government agencies now working to bring it back, and why saving even the smallest, strangest species matters just as much as saving the charismatic ones. Listen in to discover how Nebraska's one-of-a-kind beetle is getting a second chance.

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild airs weekends on NBC's "The More You Know" programming block. Co-Hosts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant share conservation success stories happening all around us. They take us to wild places as we meet incredible species and the amazing people working to save them. Check your local listings for the airtime in your area. For more information on Protecting the Wild including how to stream full episodes for free, check here: https://wildkingdom.co/4v68eYQ

Check us out on our other platforms for more animal facts, wildlife conservation success stories, original series nostalgia and more!

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#Podcast #BackFromTheBrink #WildKingdom

Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but support 25% of all marine life, and since the 1950s, we've lost half of them. 

In this episode, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant sits down with Philippe Cousteau, grandson of Jacques Cousteau and founder of EarthEcho International, to unpack why reef collapse has stayed the "most underreported environmental crisis on the planet." Philippe explains the science of coral bleaching, the technology that can grow coral 20 times faster than nature. That's why he now treats reefs not as ecosystems to protect but as infrastructure to rebuild, at a scale philanthropy alone can never fund. It's a hard look at how close we are to losing reefs entirely, and a genuinely hopeful blueprint for turning that around. 

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild airs weekends on NBC's "The More You Know" programming block. Co-hosts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant share conservation success stories happening all around us. They take us to wild places as we meet incredible species and the amazing people working to save them. Check your local listings for the airtime in your area. For more information on Protecting the Wild including how to stream full episodes for free, check here: https://wildkingdom.co/4cPq9wS

Check us out on our other platforms for more animal facts, wildlife conservation success stories, original series nostalgia and more! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildkingdomtv 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildkingdomtv/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildkingdomtv

#podcast #BackFromTheBrink #WildKingdom

By 1967, the American alligator — a reptile whose lineage predates the dinosaurs — had been hunted, skinned and pushed to the edge of extinction. Twenty years later it was thriving again, making a full recovery under the Endangered Species Act. 

In this episode, Dr. Rae sits down with Coyote Peterson, wildlife educator and creator of Brave Wilderness, whose alligator content alone has racked up over 100 million views. Together they  explain why  these "ecosystem engineers" are critical to the health of southeastern wetlands. And they dig into the modern threats that still put the species at risk, from invasive Burmese pythons to human habituation. It's a story about how fast a species can come back, and how easily that progress can be undone. 

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild airs weekends on NBC's "The More You Know" programming block. Co-Hosts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant share conservation success stories happening all around us and take us to wild places as we meet incredible species and the amazing people working to save them. Check your local listings for the airtime in your area. For more information on Protecting the Wild including how to stream full episodes for free, check here: https://wildkingdom.co/4i7hxoQ

Check us out on our other platforms for more animal facts, wildlife conservation success stories, original series nostalgia and more!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildkingdomtv 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildkingdomtv/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildkingdomtv

#Podcast #BackFromTheBrink #WildKingdom

At their lowest point, fewer than 1,000 grizzly bears remained in the lower 48 states — pushed out of 98% of their historic range by bounties, poison, and fear. In this episode of Back From The Brink from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant sits down with wildlife biologist and Tooth and Claw podcast co-host Wes Larson to tell the full story of how grizzlies came back — from the garbage dump bears of Yellowstone to the ranchers opening their land, to the corridors slowly reconnecting a species to its home.

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom is back with the series, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild! Airing weekends on NBC's "The More You Know" programming block, Co-Hosts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant share conservation success stories happening all around us. They take us to wild places as we meet incredible species and the amazing people working to save them. Check your local listings for the airtime in your area. For more information on Protecting the Wild including how to stream full episodes for free, check here: https://wildkingdom.co/4bZjQ9t

Credits: 

• Sponsor: Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom 
• Host: Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant 
• Narrator: Peter Gros 
• Executive Producers: Jen Wulf, Jenny VanSoelen 
• Production: Lower Street Media

Check us out on our other platforms for more animal facts, wildlife conservation success stories, original series nostalgia and more!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildkingdomtv
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildkingdomtv/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildkingdomtv

#Podcast #BackFromTheBrink #WildKingdom #grizzlybears 

Each spring, North America comes alive with a familiar and magical sound — the dawn chorus of songbirds returning home after journeys spanning thousands of miles. But behind that beauty lies a stark reality: nearly three billion birds have vanished since 1970. In this episode of Back From The Brink from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is joined by Kirstin Hill of Smithsonian Bird Friendly to explore a hopeful solution taking root in an unexpected place — coffee farms. Discover how shade-grown coffee is creating vital habitat, helping bird populations rebound, and restoring one of nature's most iconic soundtracks.

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom is back with the series, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild! Airing weekends on NBC's "The More You Know" programming block, Co-Hosts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant share conservation success stories happening all around us. They take us to wild places as we meet incredible species and the amazing people working to save them. Check your local listings for the airtime in your area.

For more information on Protecting the Wild including how to stream full episodes for free, check here: https://wildkingdom.co/4v68eYQ

Check us out on our other platforms for more animal facts, wildlife conservation success stories, original series nostalgia and more!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildkingdomtv
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildkingdomtv/

Credits:
• Sponsor: Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
• Host: Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant  
• Narrator: Peter Gros
• Executive Producers: Jen Wulf, Jenny VanSoelen 
• Podcast Production: Lower Street Media

#Podcast #BackFromTheBrink #WildKingdom

In the 1970s, the Green Sea Turtle was vanishing. Poaching, egg harvesting, and habitat loss had crashed global numbers by 67%, landing one of the ocean's most treasured wild animals on the endangered species list. Extinction had become a genuine possibility. 

In our very first episode of Back From the Brink, Dr. Rae sits down with wildlife biologist and TV host Jeff Corwin to unpack their incredible comeback. Over thirty years working with sea turtles around the world, Jeff has watched a critically endangered species he once feared we'd lose become, against all odds, an environmental conservation success. It's a surprising story — told by one of television's most passionate conservationists.

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom is back with the series, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild! Airing weekends on NBC’s “The More You Know” programming block, Co-Hosts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant share conservation success stories happening all around us. They take us to wild places as we meet incredible species and the amazing people working to save them. Check your local listings for the airtime in your area. For more information on Protecting the Wild including how to stream full episodes for free, check here: https://wildkingdom.co/4fw6G4E

Check us out on our other platforms for more animal facts, wildlife conservation success stories, original series nostalgia and more!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildkingdomtv
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildkingdomtv/

#Podcast #BackFromTheBrink #WildKingdom

What does it take to save a species on the edge?

From the iconic television show, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, comes Back From the Brink, a podcast celebrating the most remarkable comeback stories in the natural world. We meet endangered species that were nearly lost –– some down to their last dozen or hundred –– and learn how they found their way back. Each episode goes deep on a single species and the scientists, conservationists, and unexpected heroes at the forefront of environmental conservation who fought to save them. 

About the Hosts:

As a wildlife ecologist, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant has expertise in uncovering how human activity influences carnivore behavior and ecology. Dr. Wynn-Grant is a recipient of the prestigious Gracie Award, which focuses on women who are making positive change and who further the discussion of what a fulfilling career in media looks like. Honored for her work on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, Dr. Wynn-Grant continues to inspire with her passion for wildlife conservation and storytelling. 

Peter Gros is a veteran wildlife expert and educator. As the co-host of the Emmy® nominated series, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, and narrator of the Back from the Brink podcast, Gros shares conservation success stories and brings a message of hope to motivate audiences to take action in protecting wildlife and their habitats. Gros joined the original Wild Kingdom team in 1985, co-hosting alongside Jim Fowler on the classic series and Mutual of Omaha’s Spirit of Adventure.He has nearly 30 years of field experience with captive wildlife, establishing breeding programs for endangered animals and rehabilitation programs for birds of prey. As a USDA licensed exhibition exhibitor and animal educator, Gros has shared his experiences across the U.S. through the Wild Kingdom Kids Summit, talk show appearances and lectures. He also serves on the board of directors of the Suisun Marsh Natural History Association and is a trustee for the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

About Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom: 

Since its network television premiere in 1963, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom has been one of the most loved and respected wildlife programs in television history. The Daytime Emmy® nominated Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, now airing weekends on NBC’s “The More You Know” time block, celebrates stories of conservation success, including the great work of caring, compassionate experts and how they are making a positive impact on the Wild Kingdom. For more information about Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, visit  www.wildkingdom.com 

Conversations of squeaks, whistles and buzzes are an important way that beluga whales communicate in the dark depths of the ocean. In this episode, Dr. Kristin Westdal of Oceans North chats about her groundbreaking research of beluga behaviors and how noise pollution in the water can impact these beautiful mammals. She shares some unforgettable moments of up-close encounters with belugas while kayaking in the frigid waters near Churchill, Manitoba. Bonus Track: Sunny Nelson from Lincoln Park Zoo shares her journey researching the beautiful, and nearly extinct, Bali Myna, a rare bird found only in Bali, Indonesia.  

To learn more about Wild Kingdom, check out the website. 

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As climate change rapidly melts Arctic sea ice, polar bears could face near extinction by the end of the century. But thanks to the work of dedicated conservationists,  there’s hope. In this episode, Nikki Smith, curator at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, shares her mission to help save polar bears in the wild and secure the future of this incredible species. She discusses the many challenges they face, from rising temperatures disrupting their breeding and growth to surviving in extreme freezing conditions and how the zoo’s breeding program is essential for the survival of this species. Bonus Track: Jennica King at Sedgwick County Zoo shares how the zoo’s efforts gave two orphaned bears a second chance—not just to survive, but to thrive. 

To learn more about Wild Kingdom, check out the website. 

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Bison may no longer be on the brink of extinction, but their journey is far from over. With dwindling genetic diversity and the absence of natural selection, these prairie ecosystem engineers are not as wild as they once were. In this episode, Dr. Daniel Kinka, director of rewilding at American Prairie, shares the story of bison—from their near extinction due to westward expansion to their return to the plains. We also learn why bison rewilding is essential to restoring biodiversity and ensuring the prairie thrives for generations to come. Bonus Track: Jen Osburn Eliot at Oregon Zoo shares how they’re helping Northwestern pond turtles grow strong in a program that raises and releases them back into the wild. 

To learn more about Wild Kingdom, check out the website. 

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices