That Tracks, A Lincoln Park Zoo Podcast

What does it take to make a whole city of kids care about conservation? Rosie explains.

0:00 Introduction
0:44 Bringing real-world science into classrooms
3:06 The importance of intentional curriculum design
3:25 Zoo conservation work with Chicago Public Schools
5:09 Building the relationship with schools
8:43 Field trips and Zoo Explorers program
9:00 Scholarships and accessibility
9:43 Conservation Camp 
12:08 Zoo Crew 
12:30 What students say and do that surprises us
15:38 Leave No Trace and program evolution
17:13 Partners in Fieldwork Student Expo
17:25 The future of learning programs at Lincoln Park Zoo
18:22 What a great day looks like for Rosie
21:41 Who is Rosie?

How do you know if an animal you see at the zoo is thriving? Welfare scientist Jason explains.

0:00 Introduction

0:27 What is animal welfare?

0:49 How Lincoln Park Zoo monitors animal behavior

2:55 Why feeding behaviors are central to welfare science

3:32 Introducing the Zoo Monitor app

4:25 Zoo Monitor's global growth

5:20 The large-scale giraffe study

7:38 Balancing population data with individual welfare

9:30 Measuring welfare in understudied species

11:57 Monitoring nocturnal animals overnight

13:30 Welfare, wellbeing, and care: what's the difference?

15:44 How keepers and scientists work together

18:45 The future of welfare science

20:46 The naked mole rat dig pit experiment

23:17 Jason outside the zoo

Why does understanding urban wildlife matter? Ecologist Seth explains.  

0:40 What is an urban wildlife ecologist? 
1:25 The Urban Wildlife Institute  
2:15 Gathering data on urban wildlife  
2:55 Understanding urban wildlife data  
3:30 Surprising urban wildlife findings  
4:15 Why are there coyotes in Chicago? 
5:22 Chicago Rathole 
7:15 Urban wildlife stories throughout the world 
9:15 Improving cities for wildlife 
10:40 Chicago Wildlife Coexistence Plan 
12:20 Why is urban wildlife important?  
14:15 Biodiversity in Chicago  
15:35 Researching rats in cities 
18:30 Future of urban ecology  
20:00 How to life wildlife-friendly 
22:50 Black-crowned night herons in Chicago 
24:40 How research improves over time 
25:50 Why is studying animal behavior important? 
27:00 All about Seth

How does the zoo care for thousands of plant species? Horticulturist Katrina explains!

0:35 Being an accredited botanic garden 
2:49 Importance of tree canopies 
3:50 Collaboration at the zoo
5:20 Taking care of plants in a zoo setting
6:20 Curating 49 acres of plants
8:30 Geographical hardiness zones explained
10:25 Seasonality and caring for plants
12:20 Planning for the future
14:40 Plants with different functions
16:20 How to be wildlife-friendly at home
18:00 Plants provide food for animals
19:30 The significance of being a free botanic garden 
21:50 The past and future of horticulture
24:00 Beautiful gardens at the zoo
24:45 Learn more about Katrina

What is it like being a zookeeper? Keepers Cruz and Brittany explain! 

 

0:22 Meet Brittany and Cruz 
1:00 They journey to becoming a keeper 
3:35 Education is key to being a keeper 
4:20 A day in the life of a keeper 
6:30 Different care for different species 
9:30 How animals respond to keepers 
12:40 Trusting the animals 
16:10 Grieving animals  
21:10 Collaboration across teams 
22:55 Favorite animal stories  
24:50 How animals communicate 
27:30 Get to know Brittany and Cruzanne

How does one care for hundreds of animals representing dozens of species? Lincoln Park Zoo’s lead veterinarian, Dr. Kathryn, explains!

1:04 Dr. Kathryn’s background
1:30 The path to be a veterinarian
3:33 The breadth of veterinary work
5:20 Being flexible for different situations
6:35 Modeling to treat various species
11:00 Preventative exams
13:50 The future of veterinary medicine
17:05 Blood banking for great apes
22:10 Lincoln Park Zoo veterinary residency program
25:45 Who is Dr. Kathryn?

Bali mynas as canaries in the coal mine? Conservationist Sunny Nelson explains.

0:40 Sunny's career start
1:50 The switch from care to conservation
3:30 Lincoln Park Zoo's global impact
5:25 Conservation stories across different communities
6:50 Different tactics for conservation for diverse communities
8:55 Working with scientists
10:45 How Bali mynas inspired Sunny
12:55 What is a Bali myna?
14:30 Poaching as an umbrella term
16:00 Trafficking can happen in our own backyard
16:55 Wildlife trafficking
18:30 Research is essential to stop wildlife trafficking
20:22 What is CITES
23:30 Lincoln Park Zoo's care of trafficked species
27:30 Get to know Sunny

How do you feed 700+ animals? Nutritionist Siga Lapinskas explains!