Heart Of The Wild

He's back! Renowned wildlife photographer Chad Cocking returns to the podcast after his fantastic first appearance on Heart of the Wild — and this time, we’re going even deeper into the stories behind the lens.
In this episode, Chad shares more of his all-time favourite wildlife encounters, from heart-pounding close calls to awe-inspiring moments.
Has he ever truly felt in danger out there? (Spoiler: the wild doesn’t always play nice.) Chad reveals how he reads animal behaviour, anticipates movement, and captures those once-in-a-lifetime shots that leave us speechless.
He also takes us behind the scenes of some of the most captivating images from his latest book, Contrasts, transporting us back to the exact moments those breathtaking photographs were captured.
If you loved his first episode, buckle up — this is the next chapter of adventure you won’t want to miss.

In this fascinating and highly informative episode, we sit down with legendary British zoologist Tim Clutton-Brock, the pioneering scientist behind the Kalahari Meerkat Project and the research that inspired the iconic TV series Meerkat Manor. For decades, his work in the Kalahari Desert has revealed the extraordinary social lives of one of the animal kingdom’s most charismatic creatures: meerkats.
We dive into the science behind the show and explore how a long-term field study of these small desert mammals became a global wildlife phenomenon. We discuss how he first became captivated by meerkats and the surprising behaviours that make them such complex social beings.
Along the way, we go behind the scenes of filming Meerkat Manor, uncovering what it was like to see real scientific research transformed into must-watch television. Packed with incredible insights, fascinating animal behaviour, and stories from decades in the field, this episode celebrates the power of long-term research and why the work of the Kalahari Meerkat Project continues to be so important for understanding cooperation, survival, and life in the wild.
For more information about the Kalahari Meerkat Project, please visit their website: https://kalahariresearchcentre.org/

Get ready for an inspiring and adventure-filled episode as we sit down with one of wildlife television’s most recognisable conservation voices, Giles Clark. Known for his work on the BBC series Tigers About the House, Big Cats About the House, and Bears About the House, Giles sits down to take us behind the scenes of a career dedicated to protecting some of the world’s most extraordinary animals.
From unforgettable encounters to the day-to-day realities of working with big cats and other endangered species, we explore what it really means to devote your life to conservation. Along the way, we dive into the moral and ethical questions that come with protecting wildlife—when to intervene, when to step back, and how conservationists navigate the complex world of rescue, rehabilitation, and public awareness.
Packed with incredible stories, honest reflections, and a contagious passion for the natural world, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the highs, challenges, and unforgettable moments of a dream job spent fighting for the future of the planet’s most beautiful and vulnerable creatures.
For more about the conservation work that Giles is doing and the organisations that he is supporting, please visit: https://www.gilesclarkwild.com/what-can-you-do

What if we could truly understand the voices of the wild? From the complex songs of whales to the signature whistles of dolphins and the zoomies of our beloved pets, animals have rich communication systems we’re only beginning to decode. Now, advances in artificial intelligence may be bringing us closer than ever to crossing the species divide.
We’ll examine what it could mean to “talk” to animals in the future — not just interpreting their signals, but potentially responding in ways they understand. Could AI-generated sounds help reduce human-wildlife conflict? Support conservation by revealing stress, migration changes, or environmental threats in real time?
And with this new power comes profound ethical questions. If we can understand animals more deeply, how should that reshape our responsibilities toward them? Who decides how this technology is used? Could deeper communication fundamentally change how we see our place in the natural world?
Join us as we explore the science, the promise, and the moral complexity of a future where humans don’t just observe wildlife — we listen.

Step inside the world of big cat sanctuaries and discover what it really takes to care for some of the planet’s most powerful predators. In this episode, we journey into the African bush at the Simbonga Game Reserve and Warriors of Wildlife Sanctuary to explore the vital role sanctuaries play in rescuing and protecting lions, tigers, and other big cats that can no longer survive in the wild.
What does daily life look like when your neighbours are apex predators? From sunrise feeding routines to the quiet moments that reveal the personalities of these magnificent animals, we uncover the reality of living and working alongside big cats and the remarkable bonds that can form between humans and the animals they protect.
But not every sanctuary is what it claims to be. We also take a closer look at the critical differences between legitimate rescue organisations and those that operate under the guise of conservation. Learn the questions to ask and why ethical sanctuaries are essential for the future of these iconic species.
Join us for an eye-opening look behind the scenes of big cat rescue—where compassion, conservation, and responsibility collide in the heart of the wild.
For more details and ways to support the work that the Simbonga Reserve is doing, please visit: https://simbonga.co.za/wow-sanctuary