The Asia for Animals podcast

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/13-188 Support the Gibbon Conservation Society: https://ko-fi.com/gibbonconservationsociety

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.

Have you ever wondered what goes into planning Asia’s largest and most progressive 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.

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.

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.

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.  

Welcome to the "Shelter Fatigue" Podcast Series by the Dog and Cat Coalition (DACC). The very first episode dives into the critical issue of hoarding and its impact on animal welfare. Join Cica, Lead Coordinator of DACC, and Aarthi Sankar, Executive Director of SPCA Singapore, as they discuss the consequences of animal hoarding and solutions to ensure the desire to help doesn’t harm the very animals we aim to protect.

We know it's illegal and inhumane to keep wild animals as pets or for exploitation; but what happens to the animals in cases where law enforcement confiscates them? Animal Asia provides a sanctuary that serves not merely as a shelter but a place where an Asiatic black bear, rescued from the bear bile farms, finds their confidence in living a normal life with other bears, again; while acting as the ambassador for their species. Tune in to listen to how Sarah van Herpt, Veterinary and Behavioural Husbandry Services Director - Animals Asia, empowers the animals and the local community at Animals Asia's Viet Nam Bear Sanctuary, Tam Dao.

Join Ngoc Anh Nguyen, Lead Coordinator of the AfA Policy Coalition, as she sits down with David Pedersen, Membership Development Officer at the World Federation for Animals (WFA), for a powerful conversation about uniting the global animal welfare movement. With inspiring success stories, strategies for overcoming barriers, and a hopeful vision for the future, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about creating a better world for animals.

This podcast episode explores the vital issue of protecting animals in disaster situations, featuring insights from Altamush Saeed, an award-winning interspecies justice lawyer, professor, and activist. Altamush shared his experiences in animal rescue operations, the need for inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR) frameworks, and his vision for international policies that safeguard animals during crises.