The Asia for Animals podcast

CITES at 50: Decisions, directions, and the road ahead

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has recently marked its 50th anniversary with the landmark 20th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Samarkand. Hosts Ngoc Anh Nguyen and Koh Jieh Long were joined by Dr. Mark Jones, Head of Policy at the Born Free Foundation and a CITES veteran, to break down the pivotal outcomes.In this episode, we explore how CITES is evolving to address modern challenges, including the record-setting workload of CoP20, the shift to online and exotic pet trade in Asia, and the imperative for digitalization through CITES e-permits and traceability systems. Dr. Jones shares insights on the critical need for national policy reforms in Asian countries, greater international cooperation with bodies like the Quadripartite Collaboration for One Health, and the complex issues of animal repatriation and welfare for seized live animals.For summary of key developments, please check out: https://cites.org/eng/cop/20/summary-records

AFAD Unpacked: Voices and visions from Asia’s farmed animal advocates

In this special episode, we take you behind the scenes of Asia Farm Animal Day (AFAD) — the region’s leading gathering for farmed animal advocates — to hear directly from three inspiring voices representing India, Indonesia, and Nepal.
Join us as they share their experiences, key learnings, and personal takeaways from the conference. From building connections across borders to discovering new strategies for impact, this conversation unpacks how AFAD serves as a powerful platform for collaboration, growth, and renewed motivation within Asia’s farmed animal movement.
Tune in for heartfelt reflections, practical insights, and a glimpse into how regional advocates are shaping a more compassionate future for animals.

Shelter Fatigue: Realities of decision-making in rescues

Welcome to the "Shelter Fatigue" Podcast Series by the Dog and Cat Coalition (DACC)!Join Cica, Lead Coordinator of DACC, and Henna Pekko, Managing Director of Rescue P.A.W.S. Thailand, as they discuss the pressure shelters face when it comes to making decisions and why it’s okay to acknowledge our limits. This conversation is a reminder that no shelter or rescuer is facing these challenges alone, we are in this together.

International Orangutan Day: What does a second chance look like for an orangutan?

To celebrate World Orangutan Day, we release a podcast with the Centre for Orangutan Protection to explore one of the most powerful journeys in orangutan conservation: the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orangutans back into the wild.Through stories from the field, insights from experts, and a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of orangutan rehabilitation, this episode delves into the emotional and ecological complexities of reintroducing orangutans to their natural habitat.We welcome Hardi Baktiantoro and Indira Nurul from the Centre for Orangutan Protection, one of the organizations that works on the frontlines of orangutan conservation in Indonesia.

Surviving Pet Trade: Studies from Rescue Centers on Traumas & Primate Social Behaviors

We often see news reports about live animals being confiscated by the authorities. We automatically assume they have been "rescued"; however, fortunately or unfortunately, the animals survive after confiscation. They have to live on to deal with the aftermath of their psychological trauma, as a result of being separated from their parents and having witnessed them being killed. In this podcast episode, Amapola Rey (Poppy) and Cris Armengol were interested in studying macaques and gibbons, respectively, to understand how they cope with trauma within a social group after being rescued from the illegal pet trade. With the knowledge they gathered, they hope to inform better rehabilitation strategies at rescue centres, leading to improved welfare outcomes and increased success in releasing rescued primates back into the wild.Poppy's research paper: "Impacts of illegal trade on socio-emotional and behavioural skills in macaques" https://f1000research.com/articles/13-188Support the Gibbon Conservation Society: https://ko-fi.com/gibbonconservationsociety

Parrot Relocation: A long & windy road

This World Parrot Day, we speak with Angela D'Alessio of the World Parrot Trust and Billy Gustafianto Lolowang of Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Center about the journey of repatriating illegally traded parrots back to Indonesia — and the complex, hopeful process of releasing them back into the wild. 
Tune in and celebrate the resilience of parrots and the people fighting for their return.

What to Expect at AfA Taipei 2025: The vision, theme and work behind it

Have you ever wondered what goes into planning Asia’s largest and mostprogressive animal advocacy conference?In this special episode, we chat with Connie Chiang (Taiwan SPCA) and Wu Hung (EAST), two incredible voices from the Conference Steering Committee. We’re diving into this year’s powerful theme, “Reflection and Breaking Boundaries,” and what makes AfA Conference Taipei 2025 a must-attend event for anyone passionate about animal welfare.

Compassion in the Classroom: Macaques and the next generation

In this special International Macaque Week episode, host Amanda Yonica is joined by Vasanthi Kumar and Tanveer Khanam from STRAW India — a leading voice in humane education.For nearly two decades, STRAW has worked to bring empathy into Indian classrooms, integrating animal welfare into school curricula, teacher training, and student workshops. In this episode, we explore how their work helps children build compassion from an early age — and why education may be one of the most powerful tools for protecting animals.We also dive into their new efforts to include macaques in their programming — one of the most visible and misunderstood primates in Asia. By addressing common fears, cultural beliefs, and urban conflict, STRAW hopes to help children see macaques not as problems, but as fellow beings we must learn to coexist with.

Navigating Marine Welfare: Local challenges and collaborative solutions

Join our esteemed guest, Trixie Concepcion, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at the Dolphin Safe Monitoring Program, Earth Island Institute, as she shares her years of experience in dolphin protection across the Asia Pacific region, offering insights into the exciting and ever-evolving challenges of marine animal welfare advocacy.
Discover the origins of the Dolphin Safe program, explore crucial advocacy efforts, along with the unique challenges faced in developing countries where economic and social issues often take precedence.

Understanding Elephant Individuality: Key to Achieving Human-Elephant Coexistence

Join us as we celebrate Thai Elephant Day with our latest podcast! In this special episode, we explore the unique personalities of elephants and how recognizing them as individuals can pave the way for harmonious human-elephant relationships.
We’re thrilled to welcome Ave Owen from Bring the Elephant Home for an insightful conversation from Kuri Bui National Park, Thailand.