Many of us dream of close encounters with wild animals, but Bertie Gregory has made this a reality through his stunning films for National Geographic. As well as winning a stack of awards for his photography and filmmaking, Bertie is a National Geographic Explorer – which, as we discovered, is as cool as it sounds. Bertie is passionate about sharing his love of nature, as we found out when we caught up with him ahead of his latest movie – Dolphins Up Close, which is available to watch now on Disney+ You can follow Bertie on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bertiegregory/ Photo: Jeff Hester/National Geographic And to get more great content from BBC Wildlife, visit our website: https://www.discoverwildlife.com BBC Wildlife is the world’s longest-running and most popular nature magazine. This episode was presented by Sophie Ellis, hosted by Paul McGuinness and produced by Lewis Dobbs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered how to repair a coral reef? Or even if it’s possible? Well you’re not alone. And that’s why we visited Mote Marine Laboratories at Islamorada, in the Florida Keys. We know that our coral reefs are in trouble. But the good news is that there is hope for these vital ecosystems. We spoke to scientists whose ground-breaking work is helping to regrow the world’s third largest coral reef in a fraction of the time that nature would usually manage, armed with a hammer and a bag of nails. You can follow Mote’s work on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mote_lab/ Photo: Gareth Jones And to get more great content from BBC Wildlife, visit our website: https://www.discoverwildlife.com BBC Wildlife is the world’s longest-running and most popular nature magazine. This episode was hosted by Paul McGuinness and produced by Lewis Dobbs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How much difference can one person make? As this week’s guest proves, the answer is quite a lot, if you truly devote yourself to what you believe in. Rahima Njaidi is a Tanzanian conservationist who pioneers community-led conservation, while championing gender equality and land rights. We talked with Rahima about these complex issues, and how her direct approach is changing people’s lives on a huge scale, while also saving some of the most vital forests in Africa. You can find out more about the Tusk Awards at their website: https://www.tuskawards.com/ Photo: Fortemus Films for Tusk And to get more great content from BBC Wildlife, visit our website: https://www.discoverwildlife.com BBC Wildlife is the world’s longest-running and most popular nature magazine. This episode was hosted by Paul McGuinness and produced by Lewis Dobbs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Look up! You never know what you might see. Our cities have become quite literal urban jungles, as more and more wildlife is drawn to thrive in the increasingly sprawling megapolis. In order to get a grip on what wildlife to watch out for in the city, we turned to BBC Wildlife columnist David Lindo – aka the Urban Birder – to find out how a boy from Wembley forged a career in nature. For David, as for many people in our inner cities, there were many obstacles to overcome in his quest to immerse himself in nature. We discuss these, as well as past lives and enjoy a lesson in why you should always watch where you put your hands in a forest! You can follow David on Instagram here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theurbanbirder⁠/ Photo: Ashley Boone And to get more great content from BBC Wildlife, visit our website: ⁠https://www.discoverwildlife.com⁠ BBC Wildlife is the world’s longest-running and most popular nature magazine. This episode was hosted by Paul McGuinness and produced by Lewis Dobbs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever looked at a fly seemingly trying but failing to find its way out of an open window and wondered why it can’t figure it out? Well, if so, then you’re not alone! To unravel the mystery and learn why it’s time we changed how we think about flies, we went to the Natural History Museum in London to meet Dr Erica McAlister, Principal Curator of Diptera and Siphonaptera – that's flies and fleas. Flies are probably the wild animal that you see more than any other. And yet how much do you know about them? Erica takes us on a tour behind the scenes at the museum, and along the way, shares her passion for these marvellous creatures. Trust us, you’ll never think of flies in the same way again. You can follow Erica on Instagram here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ericamcalister⁠/ Photo: Paul McGuinness And to get more great content from BBC Wildlife, visit our website: ⁠https://www.discoverwildlife.com⁠ BBC Wildlife is the world’s longest-running and most popular nature magazine. This episode was hosted by Paul McGuinness and produced by Lewis Dobbs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered how a blind person might interact with nature? After losing his sight gradually from the age of eight, Lawrence Gunther was functionally blind by his twenties. Despite this, he continued to forge a life in nature, living for a while with Inuits, where he learned so much from them about how we can thrive to the mutual benefit of both ourselves and our environment.Today, Lawrence is North America’s only blind conservationist – a professional angler, writer, podcaster and filmmaker. In a broad-reaching conversation, we discuss sustainability, attitudes to disability, and learn about an incredible new photographic system that allows blind and partially sighted people to engage with photography in a whole new way.Watch the video of Brent Stirton introducing Lawrence to the new Canon photography for blind people here: https://www.canon.co.uk/view/brent-stirton-lawrence-guntherYou can listen to Lawrence's podcast – Outdoors With Lawrence Gunther – and learn more via his website: https://lawrencegunther.comPhoto: CanonAnd to get more great content from BBC Wildlife, visit our website: https://www.discoverwildlife.comBBC Wildlife is the world’s longest-running and most popular nature magazine. This episode was hosted by Paul McGuinness and produced by Lewis Dobbs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wild Lives is the podcast from BBC Wildlife Magazine that gets you closer to the people who dedicate their lives to the natural world. We meet inspirational people across the globe – from the depths of the Amazon jungle to London’s Natural History Museum – and find out why they have contributed so much to nature. From scientists, guides and conservationists, to writers, photographers and passionate hobbyists, we share their stories, challenges, and triumphs as they live and work alongside wildlife every day. Join us for honest conversations, inspiring journeys, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to be part of the wild. Whether you’re a nature lover or simply curious, Wild Lives offers a warm, personal window into the human side of wildlife. BBC Wildlife Magazine is the world’s longest-running and most-popular nature publication. Follow now wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices