Podcast Summary: The Ten News EXTRA – Hear From a Wildlife Veterinarian: Dr. Gabby Wild 👩🏻 (Re-air)
Date: July 10, 2025 | Host: Bethany Van Delft | Guest: Dr. Gabby Wild

Episode Overview

This episode of The Ten News dives into the work of Dr. Gabby Wild, a wildlife veterinarian and eco fashion advocate. The conversation emphasizes the interconnectedness of animal health, human activity (especially fashion choices), and global ecosystems. Dr. Wild shares her experiences working with a wide array of species, the importance of eco-conscious living, and fascinating ways that animals inspire human innovation. The episode wraps up with a kid-friendly trivia segment about the blue morpho butterfly and its impact on science and technology.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Life of a Wildlife Veterinarian

[00:55–03:01]

• Multispecies Expertise:
  Dr. Wild explains the difference between treating domesticated animals (like pigs) and their wild cousins (such as peccaries in Central and South America). Wildlife vets must adapt knowledge across many species.

• Working with Local Communities:
  Wildlife vets often collaborate with people whose lives and traditions are deeply connected to nearby animals—for example, understanding the challenges of living alongside elephants versus deer.

• Disease Monitoring:
  Dr. Wild addresses “the public interface of disease,” explaining how diseases like COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika virus can transfer between animals and people, and the responsibility vets have in monitoring these threats.

  "All of these types of viruses are transmitted from animals to people and sometimes people to animals. But we have to be monitoring these kinds of scary diseases, so that way we can protect people and animals from becoming infected." — Dr. Gabby Wild [02:39]

2. Daily Life and Traveling for Animal Care

[03:01–03:33]

• A Varied Schedule:
  Dr. Wild shares that her day-to-day work is a mix of international travel for wildlife work and long hours as a veterinary surgeon in New York.

  "When I'm not in the wild, I work as a surgeon, and I'm in the OR about 14, 15 hours a day […] mostly on dogs and cats, but I also will do exotic species." — Dr. Gabby Wild [03:12]

3. Eco Fashion and Sustainability

[03:33–07:18]

• Everyday Choices Matter:
  Dr. Wild urges listeners to consider how seemingly small choices—like what clothes we wear or how we dispose of paper—can have major impacts on the environment and animal habitats.

• Eco Fashionista Campaign:
  She describes her “eco fashionista” campaign:

  • Partnered with Project Runway designers to wear one outfit for each month of a year (2012), each representing a different endangered species or threatened habitat.
  • Highlighted the environmental impact of clothing production and encouraged sustainable fashion choices.

  "What you're wearing affected a whole ecosystem in another country, or even your country. And that affected the animals there. Because if they had dyes that they just threw and polluted into the rivers, what do you think is happening to those animals?" — Dr. Gabby Wild [04:53]

  • Advocates for reusing, repairing, or sharing clothes, and if buying new, choosing ethical and eco-friendly brands.

4. Fashion, Animals, and Inspiration

[07:18–07:52]

• Bethany (Host) Recap:
  Bethany praises Dr. Wild’s creative approach to spreading environmental awareness, connecting fashion choices to wildlife conservation.

  "What a creative and an impactful way to get the message across through fashion. How fashion affects animals and wildlife. Absolutely brilliant." — Bethany Van Delft [07:18]

5. Blue Morpho Butterfly Trivia

[07:55–09:32]

• Trivia Question:
  Kids are asked what scientists have learned from the blue morpho butterfly (choices: fluttering, creating color, or stretching).

  • Answer: Creating color [08:29]

• Dr. Wild’s Explanation:

  • The butterfly’s wings don’t use pigment but manipulate sunlight to create vivid colors—a principle that has inspired new technologies, like how to make better Velcro.

  "They inspire us to make our lives better and unique inventions from them... we share this planet with them. It's not a me versus them, it's an us." — Dr. Gabby Wild [09:05]

  • Emphasizes celebrating wildlife and collective responsibility:

    "One planet, one world, all together." — Dr. Gabby Wild [09:27]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Impact of Everyday Decisions:

  "Every decision, including the clothing you buy, the food you buy, what you're doing with your piece of paper when you're finished with it, what you're doing with everything... matters." — Dr. Gabby Wild [04:25]

• Human-Wildlife Relationship:

  "Imagine living with the elephant in your backyard. So that is sometimes what veterinarians like myself have to deal with..." — Dr. Gabby Wild [01:54]

• Wildlife Inspires Innovation:

  "We learned how to make Velcro because of the way that their wings work." — Dr. Gabby Wild [09:03]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Wildlife vet career explained: 00:55–03:01
• Daily routine & travel: 03:01–03:33
• Eco fashion and campaign: 03:33–07:18
• Host’s reflection on fashion/animals: 07:18–07:52
• Blue morpho butterfly trivia: 07:55–09:32
• Dr. Wild’s butterfly insight: 08:36–09:32

Overall Tone

The tone is energetic, accessible, and inspiring—perfect for curious kids and families. Dr. Wild balances scientific information with relatable stories and actionable advice, while host Bethany keeps the conversation lively and interactive.

Takeaways

• Wildlife vets juggle animal health, human cultures, and global disease risks—across species and continents.
• Everyday decisions (like fashion) directly impact ecosystems and animal well-being.
• Nature, especially animals like the blue morpho butterfly, inspires human inventions and solutions.
• Everyone can make a difference, starting with mindful everyday choices.

For more insights and to listen to the entire interview, visit www.thetennews.com.