Few people have shaped our understanding of wildlife as profoundly as George Schaller. From studying mountain gorillas in the Congo and lions in the Serengeti to tracking snow leopards in the Himalayas and giant pandas in China, Schaller spent more than six decades observing animals in some of the world's most remote landscapes.

In this episode of Wildlife Wire, Mark and Sam are joined by author and conservationist Miriam Horn to discuss her new biography, Homesick for a World Unknown: The Life of George B. Schaller. Drawing on more than 20,000 pages of field journals, personal correspondence, and interviews with colleagues around the world, Horn reveals the remarkable scientist behind the discoveries, including his deep connection to wildlife, his extraordinary patience, and the essential role his wife, Kay, played in his life's work.

Along the way, we hear stories of unforgettable encounters with snow leopards, a family life filled with unconventional animal companions, and Schaller's pioneering approach to conservation that recognized local communities as essential partners in protecting wildlife.

The conversation also explores how Schaller helped transform conservation from protecting individual species to understanding entire ecosystems, and why his belief in working alongside local people remains as relevant today as ever.

Learn More

• Miriam Horn's website: miriamhorn.com

• Explore the book: Homesick for a World Unknown

• Purchase the book: Penguin Random House, with hardcover, ebook, and audiobook options, plus links to additional booksellers.

Colorado voters will soon decide whether to add a constitutional right to hunt and fish to the state’s Constitution. But what would Amendment 83 actually change, and why are so many conservationists, hunters, wildlife advocates, and elected officials opposing it?

In this episode of Wildlife Wire, hosts Mark Surls and Samantha Miller take a closer look at Amendment 83, tracing its roots back to Colorado's landmark wildlife protection measures in the 1990s. From the prohibition of spring bear hunting and certain trapping methods to the emergence of organizations seeking to protect those practices, they explore the decades of history behind this proposed constitutional amendment.

The conversation examines two particularly consequential phrases in Amendment 83: “traditional methods” and “preferred means.” What could these undefined terms mean for Colorado's wildlife, and how might they affect future conservation decisions, public safety, and the ability of Coloradans to have a voice in wildlife management?

Mark and Samantha also discuss the potential consequences for nonlethal wildlife management, the risk of increased litigation, and the growing coalition of hunters, conservationists, elected officials, and editorial boards opposing the measure.

At its core, this episode asks a fundamental question: Should Colorado's Constitution give one approach to wildlife management preference over others, or should wildlife decisions remain responsive to science, public values, and the voices of all Coloradans?

With Election Day approaching on November 3, this conversation offers important context for voters considering Amendment 83.

• Keep Colorado's Voice — Vote NO on Amendment 83: https://keepcoloradosvoice.com/

• Campaign resources, fact sheets, and talking points: https://keepcoloradosvoice.com/resources/

• Organizations and individuals opposing Amendment 83: https://keepcoloradosvoice.com/endorsements/

• Official Amendment 83 ballot analysis and proposed constitutional language: https://leg.colorado.gov/ballots/constitutional-right-to-hunt-and-fish-2

• 2026 Colorado Blue Book — Official Ballot Information: https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2026-blue-book-en-accessible.pdf

• Voting information and ballot drop-off locations: https://www.coloradosos.gov/voter/

Election Day: November 3, 2026.

Wildlife Wire explores wildlife conservation, coexistence, and the policies shaping the future of wild animals and the places they inhabit.

What happens when powerful photography and investigative journalism inspire real conservation action?

In this episode of Wildlife Wire, Mark Surls and Samantha Miller sit down with award-winning National Geographic photographer Steve Winter and environmental journalist and National Geographic Explorer Sharon Guynup to discuss their new book, Big Cats. Featuring 170 photographs and stories spanning decades of work across four continents, the book explores the lives of the world's great cats, the threats they face, and the people working to protect them.

Steve and Sharon share how their work has helped change public attitudes, expose wildlife trafficking, and influence conservation policy. From the jaguars of Brazil's Pantanal to the mountain lions of Los Angeles, they demonstrate how compelling storytelling can lead to meaningful change.

The conversation explores the remarkable story behind Steve's iconic photograph of P-22 beneath the Hollywood sign and how one mountain lion helped inspire a major wildlife crossing over California's 101 Freeway. Sharon also takes us behind the scenes of her investigations into Thailand's notorious Tiger Temple and the captive tiger industry in the United States, including the reporting that helped build momentum for the Big Cat Public Safety Act.

They also discuss practical approaches to coexistence, including predator-proof livestock enclosures, ecotourism, and efforts to help communities benefit from protecting large carnivores rather than killing them.

Throughout the conversation, Steve and Sharon offer a hopeful message: conservation challenges are complex, but solutions exist, and everyone has a role to play.

In this episode:

• How photography and journalism can drive conservation policy

• The story behind P-22's famous Hollywood sign photograph

• How jaguar ecotourism transformed attitudes toward predators in Brazil

• Investigating tiger trafficking and the exploitation of captive big cats

• The Big Cat Public Safety Act and the connection between animal welfare and public safety

• Practical coexistence strategies for ranchers and communities

• How cultural attitudes influence our willingness to live alongside predators

• Why wildlife connectivity and habitat protection are critical to the future of big cats

• Finding hope and taking meaningful action for wildlife

About our guests

Steve Winter is an award-winning National Geographic wildlife photographer whose work has taken him around the world documenting big cats, their habitats, and the challenges they face. His photographs have helped raise awareness of wildlife conservation issues and inspired action to protect threatened species.

Sharon Guynup is an environmental journalist and National Geographic Explorer whose investigative reporting focuses on wildlife trafficking, conservation, and the relationship between people and wildlife. Her work has exposed illegal wildlife trade networks and helped bring international attention to the exploitation of captive big cats.

Together, they are the authors of Big Cats, a National Geographic book that combines extraordinary wildlife photography with stories of conservation challenges, solutions, and hope.

Explore Big Cats and learn more:

• Big Cats — Penguin Random House (book information and purchase options)

• Sharon Guynup — Official Website

• Sharon Guynup — Instagram

• Sharon Guynup — Mongabay Profile

• Steve Winter — Instagram

• Big Cat Voices — Conservation Storytelling

Photo credit: Steve Winter