Show Notes
For wildlife filmmaker Nigel Marven, seeing an Arabian oryx in the wild was a moment he never thought he'd experience - a species he had only ever seen in books as a child, once declared extinct in the wild.
In this episode of Wildest Moments, host Ben Fogle speaks with Nigel about filming in Saudi Arabia and the powerful encounter that brought him face to face with one of conservation's greatest success stories. Restored to the wild through Operation Oryx, the species' return is a testament to decades of international conservation efforts - including those led by ZSL.
Joining the conversation is Whipsnade Zoo Animal Manager Matt Webb, who shares the remarkable story of Caroline, an Arabian oryx once cared for at London Zoo, who later became part of the 'World Herd' in Arizona in the 1960s - the first global conservation breeding programme of its kind, and a turning point in saving the species from extinction.
Together, they reflect on the power of conservation to reverse even the most desperate declines, and what it means to witness a species brought back from the brink.
About Wildest Moments: Hosted by Ben Fogle and created in partnership with Mountain Warehouse, Wildest Moments is a podcast from ZSL (Zoological Society of London) exploring the surprising, emotional and transformative encounters people have had with wildlife. New episodes are released on the third Thursday of every month. Launched as part of ZSL's 200th anniversary, the series celebrates over two centuries of inspiring closer connections between people and the natural world.
Executive Producers - Rami Tzabar, Jane Gerber and Katie Derham
Senior Producer - Naomi Oiku
Production Supervisor - Mia Xerri Mondragon
ZSL editorial leads: Tina Campanella and Rebecca Blanchard
Sound Design and Additional Editing - Nada Smiljanić
Sound Engineer - Jon Last
Video Editor - Carla Mercer
Cover Art - Will Rose
Recorded at TYX Studios, London.
More from ZSL's Wildest Moments
For Wuikinuxv First Nation councillor and environmental researcher Jennifer Walkus, living alongside grizzly bears is a way of life shaped by respect, knowledge and coexistence.
For Sunday Times bestselling author Chloe Dalton, a chance encounter with a tiny, orphaned leveret on a quiet country lane became a life-changing experience - one that would reshape how she saw the natural world.
For actress and Disney's The Lion King alumni Merryl Ansah, stepping into the role of Nala meant embodying one of the most iconic screen lions in history, but she'd never seen one in real life – until the night she spent at London Zoo.
Under starlit skies and glowing bioluminescence, Megan McCubbin found herself face to face with one of the ocean's most misunderstood predators - sharks.
When Dr Bruce Fogle arrived in London from Canada for a short placement as a veterinarian at ZSL, he had no idea his life was about to take an unexpected turn - all because of a dog named Honey.