Podcast Summary: Here's Where It Gets Interesting – "Vanishing Treasures with Katherine Rundell"
Introduction
In the December 9, 2024 episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, host Sharon McMahon engages in a captivating conversation with Katherine Rundell, the acclaimed author of Vanishing Treasures: Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures. This episode delves into the fascinating and often overlooked stories of endangered animals, blending history, culture, and urgent conservation messages to inspire listeners to become more informed and thoughtful stewards of the natural world.
Katherine Rundell and Vanishing Treasures
Sharon begins by expressing her admiration for Katherine's work, highlighting her love for animals and the unique, whimsical approach Katherine takes in her book. Katherine shares the inspiration behind Vanishing Treasures, emphasizing her upbringing in Zimbabwe and the profound connection she developed with wildlife from an early age. She describes her first encounter with a pangolin as a pivotal moment that ignited her passion for raising awareness about lesser-known endangered species.
"I wanted to say there is so much out there that we risk losing before we have even begun to understand the scope and sweep of its complexity, intelligence, beauty." [06:00]
The Enigmatic Pangolin
One of the first animals discussed is the pangolin, often referred to as the "scaly anteater." Katherine explains the pangolin's unique physical features and behaviors, portraying it as a creature that embodies ancient beauty with its heavy armor and polite demeanor.
"They have the body shape of an anteater, but the armor that you would imagine, perhaps of a crocodile or a snake, and the face of, like, an unusually polite academic." [04:00]
Katherine highlights the pangolin's plight as the most trafficked animal in the world, driven by human desires for traditional medicine and as a delicacy. She poignantly contrasts the pangolin's natural defensive mechanisms with the unintended consequences of human interference.
American Wood Frog: Nature’s Marvel
Sharon shares her personal experiences with the American wood frog, marveling at its incredible ability to survive winter by freezing solid and then spontaneously restarting its heart in spring.
"We don't know how the wood frog knows exactly the right moment to restart its heart and they all do it." [10:08]
Katherine draws parallels to other animal behaviors, underscoring the vastness of human ignorance about the natural world's complexities.
Greenland Shark: A Living Time Capsule
The conversation shifts to the Greenland shark, Earth's oldest vertebrate. Katherine elaborates on the groundbreaking science that revealed these sharks can live for up to 512 years, making them contemporaries of historical figures like Shakespeare.
"There would be a shark who is alive today who was alive alongside Shakespeare." [16:00]
Sharon reflects on the profoundness of such longevity, contemplating the insignificance of human daily concerns in the grand tapestry of natural history.
Raccoons: Clever and Persistent
Sharon shares a personal anecdote about living with wild raccoons, illustrating their intelligence and tenacity. Katherine responds with fascination, recounting historical accounts of raccoons and their cognitive abilities, such as solving the Aesop's Fable-inspired Stone Task.
"I long to see one. They're quite cute, their beauty, those banded faces." [29:32]
They discuss the challenges of cohabiting with such intelligent creatures and the broader implications for human-wildlife interactions.
Bears: Symbols of Strength and Vulnerability
The discussion moves to bears, exploring why humans are particularly enamored with them. Katherine attributes this to the contrasting qualities of bear cubs' sweetness and the formidable power of adult bears.
"The extraordinary strength and power of the adult bear... their extraordinary ferocity." [33:22]
Sharon muses on the duality of bears in human culture, from beloved Disney characters to symbols of wildness and resilience.
Narwhals: Mythical Yet Real
Katherine and Sharon delve into the enigmatic narwhal, often mistaken for a mythical creature akin to a unicorn. Katherine shares historical anecdotes about narwhals being confused with unicorn horns and discusses their unique biological features.
"The tusks are shot through with around 10 million nerve endings... perhaps cartographers." [43:53]
They highlight the narwhal's mysterious behaviors and the challenges in studying these elusive marine animals.
Conservation Urgency: A Call to Action
As the conversation nears its conclusion, Katherine delivers a powerful message on conservation. She compares humanity's role to "Noah's ark in reverse," emphasizing the rapid decline of wildlife and the urgent need for active, passionate conservation efforts.
"No human can save everything, but every human can save something." [49:58]
Katherine outlines what fighting for the natural world entails, advocating for political engagement, lifestyle changes, and a collective, fervent love for nature.
Gandalf’s Call to Action
Towards the end, Sharon references Gandalf's famous line, "You shall not pass," using it as a metaphor for the determined fight against environmental destruction. Katherine interprets this as a call to brace for a challenging struggle, emphasizing resilience and unwavering commitment.
"The time to give up is never." [50:43]
Conclusion
Sharon wraps up the episode by praising Katherine's beautifully written work and its ability to spark "brain tingle" moments—those exhilarating instances of newfound knowledge that inspire sharing and advocacy. She encourages listeners to explore Vanishing Treasures and support conservation efforts, reinforcing the episode's central theme of cherishing and protecting the world's vanishing treasures.
"This book is full of them and I am so grateful, grateful for your time today." [52:26]
Final Thoughts
This episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting masterfully combines storytelling, scientific insight, and passionate advocacy to shed light on endangered species that deserve more attention. Through engaging dialogue and poignant reflections, Sharon McMahon and Katherine Rundell inspire listeners to appreciate the intricate wonders of the natural world and take meaningful action to preserve them for future generations.