Charles and Jon get a glimpse into the fascinating world of African mole-rats with Kyle Finn, a Postdoctoral Fellow from Linnaeus University, Sweden and one of the world's foremost experts on this family of species.

Kyle talks about his work studying Damaraland Mole-rats for his master's degree at the Kalahari Research Centre and then studying Natal Mole-rats in the Drakensberg for his PhD.

He runs through many of the ways in which mole-rats are exceptional. They are exceptionally long-loved, immune to cancer and, with an ability to fight the aging process at a cellular level, may hold the secret to the fountain of youth. And two species live - like bees - in colonies with defined roles including a single reproducing queen, making them the world's only eusocial mammals.

Kyle also shares some of his adventures from his time in the Kalahari including almost missing a Temminck's Ground Pangolin that he was convinced was an April Fool's Day prank.

We start the episode by discussing whether feeding wildlife can ever benefit conservation. Jon also shares some recent travel highlights from a trip with Kyle across South Africa, that featured - of course - five mole-rat species, and 12 days in Kenya where he saw a stunning Mountain Bongo and a spectacular Welwitsch's Myotis.

Notes: Jon's trip report from South Africa is here. And his Kenya report is here. Here is more on the 'Alexander' - Richard D Alexander - Kyle mentioned. "In 1974 he created a detailed model for a eusocial vertebrate, having no idea that a mammal with these characteristics actually existed. It turned out that his hypothetical eusocial rodent was a "perfect description" of the Naked Mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)."

If you are interested in visiting South Africa in November 2027 with Jon and Kyle please write to mammalwatching@gmail.com.

Here is a list of papers that discuss some of the issues around feeding wildlife.

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Cover art: Kyle and a Cape Mole-rat

Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 120 countries.

Charles and Jon talk to Stratton Hatfield and Koen Betjes, two conservation researchers involved in a range of fascinating work in Africa.

We cover a lot of ground from Giant Pangolin research in Kenya to the importance of taxonomy for conservation and mammal listing.

The pair talk about how they have just - together with Charles - solved the mystery of a mysterious mongoose, a case worthy of Sherlock Holmes.

And Stratton and Koen run through a set of mammal encounters guaranteed to send any mammalwatcher weak at the knees from close encounters with Allen's Swamp Monkeys and Mountain Bongos to having a bath with a Giant Otter Shrew!

Notes: Stratton Hatfield grew up in Zimbabwe and moved to Kenya when he was 12. He spent his childhood exploring the African bush and now lives in the Netherlands where he's finishing is PhD at Wageningen University (on the foraging ecology of Martial Eagles in Kenya’s Maasai Mara). He continues to spend a great deal of time travelling throughout Africa working on wildlife research and guiding, with much of his current focus on conservation through his job with the BAND Foundation, supporting projects across southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. He is an avid fan of wildlife mysteries especially those related to cryptic diversity, biogeography and taxonomy.

Koen Betjes studied wildlife management in the Netherlands and has since worked in some remote regions in Africa, including on Mandrills in southern Gabon, and biodiversity surveys south of Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also works with the Dutch evolutionary biologist and television presenter Freek Vonk on wildlife and conservation projects.

Koen and Stratton are now working together in Kenya for the Pangolin Project, which works to protect Kenya's last remaining Giant Pangolins.

Jon's trip report from Northeast Brazil is here. And here is some information on the Matto Grosso Primate Route.

Here is information on the Lost Species Initiative we mentioned.

Please take a minute to complete this survey about becoming a contributing member of mammalwatching.com.

You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching

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Cover art: Jackson's Mongoose (camera trap), David Gulden.

Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.

Charles and Jon talk to mammalwatcher and environmental lawyer Brett Hartl from his home in Prescott, Arizona.

After beginning his working life as a ranger in Montana's Glacier National Park, Brett went to law school and now coordinates the Center for Biological Diversity's work on federal legislative issues that affect endangered species and other environmental concerns.

Brett explains how - and why - he made the transition from a field biologist to environmental lawyer.

He explains the process behind mounting a legal case, using Wolverine protection as an example. And he outlines the vital role mammalwatchers can play in helping environmental advocacy groups mount a legal case (see notes below).

And Brett talks about some of his favorite mammalwatching adventures including bumping into a Wolverine in Montana and swimming with Blue Whales in Sri Lanka.

At the start of the episode we get an update from Marc Bozon about progress to date on his 2026 Big Cat Year. You can read all about Marc's adventures, and his support for conservation, on his website including his encounter with the mythical Bornean Bay Cat.

Notes: Brett explained that if any mammalwatcher has seen, tried to see, or has plans to see, a specific species then you could be key to mounting a legal case to protect a that animal, particularly for one of the more obscure mammals where it can be hard to find someone who would personally be harmed by that species' extinction. We, however, can legitimately explain why our hopes and dreams are in tatters if that particular vole or shrew were to disappear.

So if you would like to help US environmental advocacy groups protect mammals, then consider becoming a member of one of the key groups fighting to protect US wildlife: the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, NRDC, and/or Wildearth Guardians. If you would like to be a standing declarant in particular, feel free to reach out to Brett at bhartl@biologicaldiversity.org and he will keep your contact information for future legal fights to better protect mammals under the law.

You can support mammalwatching and buy us a coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/mammalwatching

Finally did you know you can sign up to receive a weekly mammalwatching newsletter here? https://www.mammalwatching.com/subscribe-to-updates/

Cover art: Brett Hartl in the Central African Republic.

Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in almost 120 countries.