Ocelot Conservation w/Panthera's Raissa Sepulveda

In this episode, Angie interviews Raissa Sepulveda, a PhD student from Brazil and a field technician for the nonprofit organization Panthera. They delve into Raissa's work on ocelot conservation in the Pantanal, the world's largest inland tropical wetland.  Raissa shares her experiences in the field, from capturing and collaring ocelots to studying their movements and habitats. The conversation also covers challenges such as human-wildlife conflict, climate change, and the importance of habitat preservation. Additionally, Raissa discusses her journey in wildlife conservation and the significance of women leading these efforts in typically male-dominated fields. Podcast Timeline 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 00:58 What is an Ocelot? 04:16 Raissa's Background and Journey 07:08 Field Stories: Ocelots and Jaguars 16:04 Ocelot and Jaguar Conservation Status 18:19 Working with Panthera 19:28 A Day in the Life of a Field Technician 26:18 Research Findings and Conservation Implications 30:09 Understanding Ocelot Conservation Corridors 32:05 Human-Wildlife Conflict and Conservation Strategies 38:14 Challenges and Rewards of Fieldwork 38:38 Women in Conservation: Breaking Barriers 42:08 Fieldwork Hardships and Climate Change Impact 52:19 Advice for Aspiring Conservationists 56:03 Supporting Conservation Efforts Beyond Fieldwork 58:16 Panthera Organization and Final Thoughts This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/CREATURES and get on your way to being your best self. ------------------------------------------------------------- Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices