Mark Elbroch: The Secret Lives of Mountain Lions

Species Unite

elizabeth novogratz

Philosophy, Society & Culture

5.0 • 911 Ratings

🗓️ 12 April 2023

⏱️ 35 minutes

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Summary

"Our cultures are built around stories, right? We connect through stories, we learn through stories and stories are often stronger when they have characters, characters we can connect with. And I think that that been a struggle for many, many animals, all kinds of animals, that they don't have a face or a character that people can connect with." – Mark Elbroch

Before I met Mark Elbroch and read his book, The Cougar Conundrum: Sharing the World with a Successful Predator, I thought I knew at least a little bit about mountain lions. After meeting him and reading his book, I realized that I had actually known very little and much of what I thought I knew was wrong. Mark on the other hand, knows a lot about mountain lions, more than just about anyone on the planet.

Mark is an ecologist, author, storyteller and the Director of the Puma Program for Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization. He's also an animal tracker working to preserve ancient skills and elevate their applications in our modern world. His research has challenged everything we thought we knew about the social lives of mountain lions.

Maybe you know a thing or two about them, but I would bet that just about anyone who listens to this conversation learns a great deal about these mysterious and extraordinary animals.

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0:00.0	Species, unite, unite.
0:07.0	Species, unite.
0:11.0	Species unite.
0:15.0	Our cultures are built around stories, right?
0:18.0	So we connect through stories, we learn through stories, and stories are often stronger when they have characters.
0:26.0	So characters we can connect with.
0:28.6	And I think that that's been a struggle for many animals, all kinds of animals, that they don't have a face or a character
0:35.9	that people can connect with. Hi, I'm Elizabeth Novigrats. This is Species Unite. We have a favor to ask if you like today's episode and you have a spare minute,
0:55.3	could you please rate and review Species Unite on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to Podcasts.
1:02.3	It really helps people to find the show. or wherever you listen to podcasts.
1:02.5	It really helps people to find the show. This conversation is with Dr. Mark Elbrock. Mark is an ecologist, an author, a
1:17.8	storyteller, and a scientist for Panthera, the Global Wildcat Conservation Organization.
1:24.0	Mark's research has challenged everything
1:26.1	that we thought we knew about the social lives of mountain lions.
1:30.0	He's written many books, including Cougar Conundrum,
1:33.4	sharing the world with a successful predator. How are you? I'm good, yourself. Where are you? I'm good yourself. Where are you? I am in Western Washington about a hundred miles west of Seattle.
2:00.0	Is that home? That is home, yep. It must be beautiful.
2:03.0	Yeah, it's nice.
2:05.0	Beautiful day, snow on the mountains.
2:07.0	I'm such a good example of somebody you talk about in your book
2:11.0	who literally knew, like I thought I knew about Mountain Lions. I mean I didn't think I was like an expert by any means and then I read your book and realized like I don't know anything about Mountain Lions.
2:22.8	Now I do.
	...

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