As a thank you to Sammie for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Project3R, a non-profit organization founded by sixteen-year-old Ryan Hickman. Project3R is dedicated to recycling and raising environmental awareness and education around the world. To learn more about this organization, click here: Project3R
Margot Raggett is a wildlife photographer, wildlife warrior and a cancer survivor. She joins Anitha and generously talks about these parts of her life.
After witnessing the death of a young elephant, a tragic victim of poaching, Margot felt compelled to help protect wild animals . . .and thus was born Remembering Wildlife.
The first book in the series, Remembering Elephants, brought together photographers from all of the world, including Margot, donating stunning photographs for the book, which came out in 2015. Since then, eight more books have been produced and to date $1.5 million dollars has been raised through the sale of these books to support 74 projects in 33 countries across Africa, North & South America, Asia and Europe.
The latest book in the series, Remembering Tigers, will be available October 2024.
You can purchase one or more or all of these gorgeous books and help protect wildlife by visiting the Remembering Wildlife website: Remembering Wildlife
To learn about some of the projects Remembering Wildlife supports, click here: Projects
On October 9th, Remembering Wildlife will host a special event to celebrate the release of Remembering Tigers. It will be an evening to showcase tiger conservation and wildlife photography. To attend the event in London, England in person or virtually, click here:
As of the date of airing of this episode, Margot was still deciding on a charity she would like Anitha to donate to. Once Margot decides, Anitha will donate and provide details and a link to the charity.
September 22 is World Rhino Day and to mark this special day when the world recognizes these incredible beings who are critically endangered, Anitha chatted with Elisa Best.
16.11.20 – Mirror Animal Hero Awards 2020 – Picture shows Elise Best at her workplace Rowe Vet Hospital in Bristol.
Elisa is originally from South Africa and works as a small animal veterinarian in the UK. Elisa talks about the plight of rhinos and her desire to help them, and how this evolved into the creation of Blankets For Baby Rhinos (BFBR).
This lovely group began by knitting blankets for orphaned rhinos, who are often both emotionally and physically traumatized when their mothers are killed by poachers. Rhino rescue groups discovered that baby rhinos find comfort when wrapped in these blankets.
BFBR has now grown to provide blankets for other animals such as injured and rescued pangolins, lions, leopards, as well as the dogs and humans who are part of anti-poaching units. These dogs and humans work bravely to protect rhinos from poachers.
To find out more about Blankets For Baby Rhinos and how you can support this incredible group, check out their website and their Facebook Page:
Elisa talked about an amazing place called Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary. This is one of the rhino rescue groups, Blankets for Baby Rhinos supports. Care For Wild rescues, rehabilitates, releases, re-wilds and protects orphaned rhinos. In 2016, Anitha’s daughter had the privilege to volunteer at this sanctuary. Her daughter’s experience with the baby rhinos at Care For Wild inspired Anitha’s debut picture book, A Family For Faru. Care For Wild will always hold a special place in Anitha’s heart.
Elisa also mentioned the importance of the anti-poaching unit to protect rhinos and the personal risk these brave men, women and dogs face every day. She mentioned a feature length documentary called RHINO MAN. This film focuses on the life of Anton Mzimba, who was the Head of Ranger Services at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Anton dedicated his life to protecting and conserving South African wildlife, and made great sacrifices to himself and his family to do so. Sadly, he was murdered in July of 2022. To learn more about this film, check out the following link:
Clarissa Dery, a certified canine nutritionist joins Anitha to talk about what motivated her to create healthy supplements for dogs.
Clarissa not only creates products to help dogs, but after volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in South Africa, she decided to donate the profits from Clarissa Clover to help wild animals in South Africa.
Clarissa talks about her time in South Africa, the animals she worked with, such as hippos and pangolins, and how this experience affected her.
To learn more about Clarissa and the products she makes, check out these links:
As a thank you to Clarissa for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Umoya Khulula Wildlife Rehab Centre. This non-profit rehabilitation facility in Limpopo, South Africa is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of local wildlife that have been orphaned, injured, displaced or confiscated from the illegal trade.
To learn about this wildlife rehab centre, please check out their website:
The incredible, Katy Brink from the dodo joins Anitha to talk about her love for animals, fostering dogs, and being a part of an amazing organization all about animals.
With Lola & JakeSasha with Lorna & Libby
Katy shares what it’s like working as an executive editor at the dodo, (which may be Anitha’s dream job) The dodo is a wonderful organization that highlights heart-warming stories about animals . . . and the stories always have happy endings.
In addition to working as an editor, Katy generously devotes a lot of her time to fostering dogs. She talks about the devastating overcrowding situation at animal shelters and how fostering literally saves lives.
Katy has some wonderful stories about the dogs who are and have been in her life, including her current foster, a sweet girl named Cartier.
Cartier
To learn more about Katy, Cartier and the dodo, click on the following links.
As a thank you to Katy for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Mr. Bones & Co.— a volunteer-run animal welfare non-profit. They specialize in helping dogs who face extraordinary challenges, such as extensive emergency veterinary care/surgery, unfair breed discrimination or those languishing in municipal shelters with behavioral issues that make them harder to place.
In 2021 Nadia Kean-Ayub created Rainbow Spaces. She joins Anitha to talk about what motivated her to start this organization, how this group helps youth in the LGBTQ+ community, and how much they have grown in just three years.
Nadia also shares her favourite ways to support folks in the queer community by being an A+ Ally
Affirm who they are
Accept that their path is their own
Acknowledge
Don’t offer Advice on who they should share their queerness with
Adapt by letting the youth guide you
An emotional and honest discussion of the best and most difficult aspects of creating a safe and inclusive space for all youth.
Photos of Prom
To learn more about the amazing events Rainbow Spaces creates, check out their Instagram account:
As a thank you to Nadia for sharing her story, Anitha offered to donate to Lamba Rising Soccer, a non-profit organization located in San Diego that provides inclusive soccer programs for youth and adults. To learn more about this organization, check out their website: https://www.lambdarisingsoccer.com/
Jenny McQueen is a true hero for animals. She joins Anitha to talk about leading and participating in peaceful anti-fur protests, bearing witness of animals as they are trucked off to slaughter, co-founding Animal Rights Toronto, and so much more.
Jenny has been arrested eight times for peacefully raising awareness about violence against animals, in particular those used in the animal agricultural industry.
Jenny & Alice
She also talks about the devastating death of Regan Russell in 2020. Regan was bearing witness to the last moments of pigs’ lives when she was killed by a slaughterhouse truck driver.
To learn more about all the amazing work Jenny is involved in, check out her Instagram account:
As promised, here is a photo of the documentaries to watch and the many animal rights organizations you can support:
As a thank you to Jenny for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Promised Land Animal Sanctuary, a safe haven for animals who have been neglected, abused, abandoned or forgotten.
Promised Land Animal Sanctuary cares for horses, chickens, ducks, pigs, donkeys, alpacas, goats, sheep, dogs and cats. They provide all these animals lifelong care and shelter.
The incredible Paige Graham joins Anitha to talk about the many dogs, cats, pigs and chickens she has adopted and shares her home with.
Paige began her animal rescue journey in 2010 as a foster for a dog rescue. She soon realized senior animals and those with complex medical needs are sadly often deemed “unadoptable”. With her background in nursing and her huge heart, Paige decided she would give these animals a permanent home, and The Isle of Misfits was born.
Paige shares some heart-warming stories including how she comes up with their awesome names such as Abraham Lincoln, a dog who is missing an eye, Little Richard, an American Bulldog, and Celine Dion, a kitten with a belting meow.
Paige even delves into some difficult personal issues she faced and credits her animals for helping her get through that tough part of her life.
An honest and important conversation about loving animals who many have deemed unfit to live, and also learning to trust and love yourself.
To learn more about Paige and The Isle of Misfits check out her instagram account.
As a thank you to Paige for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Limbo Chihuahua Rescue in St. Petersburg Florida. Paige personally adopted two paralyzed chihuahuas from this rescue. To learn more about what this organization does and how you can support them, please click on the link below:
As a thank you to Malani for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter, a licensed wildlife shelter providing 24 hour emergency wildlife rescue.
Malani and her family spent time at the shelter helping out. It’s always nice supporting an organization personally known to the guest.
To learn more about Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter, check out their social media pages:
Valentin Gruener achieved his childhood goal to live in Africa and work with wildlife, and not just any wildlife. Val has spent the past twelve years raising, caring and loving Sirga, a lioness who came into his life when she was around ten days old.
Val talks about sharing his life with a wild lion, including some heart-warming stories. He also talks about the reasons for the devastating decline in the wild lion population, his conservation initiative—the Modisa Wildlife Project, and so much more.
A very special and important conversation about a man, a lioness and how together they are raising awareness to protect wildlife.
To learn more about Val, Sirga and the Modisa Wildlife Project, check out the following links:
As a thank you to Val for sharing his story, Anitha donated to the Kalahari Research and Conservation (KRC). Kalahari is a unique and fragile ecosystem with a rich diversity of plants and animals. This organization works to understand and conserve Kalahari’s distinctive landscape in the face of increasing challenges.
Anitha Rao-Robinson 