The Los Angeles Zoo announced today they have partnered with award-winning actors, Mongabay, and the University of Montana to present “Endangered: Short Tales For The Nearly Forgotten,” a podcast anthology celebrating species that are on the verge of extinction (www.endangeredtales.com). The series will begin releasing episodes on Endangered Species Day, May 21st. The anthology podcast is geared toward kids but has adult appeal using narrative storytelling alongside up-to-date facts and a call to action to bring attention to the seven featured species.
The podcast is created, written, directed and produced by Emmy-nominee Graham Sibley (Dark Web, Sully). Nik Dodani (Dear Evan Hansen, Atypical) joins Ana Claudia Talancon (Top Chef Mexico), Juan Pablo Espinosa (Half Brothers), Emmy-nominee Scott Turner Schofield (Studio City), Sydney Vienglaung (Z-Nation), Noah Watts (Assassin’s Creed III) and Tuli Amakali (Conversations About Nothing) in the telling of seven short stories geared at giving little-known and forgotten endangered species a spotlight through storytelling. Emmy-Award winning sound designer and mixer Kyle O’Neal (Westworld, NBC’s Debris) is designing and producing the series as well.
Each ten-minute episode features a different endangered species and is focused on raising awareness, celebrating biodiversity in the animal kingdom, and a strong, diverse human community. Each episode highlights a non-profit organization working with the featured species. The entire cast and crew have donated their talent and time to the project. Many of the cast members recorded safely at home from different parts of the world, from Namibia to Native land in Montana.
Endangered Species Podcast creator Graham Sibley notes, “With the pandemic shedding a new light on the fragility of human health and society, the animal kingdom shows us that celebrating and honoring diversity can be a vital tool for survival. By doing so, we will create a stronger system in order to fight disease, nourish our species and ultimately rise in today’s evolving, global marketplace.” He shared that “This podcast is a way of celebrating not only endangered animals but diversity within the human community as it’s reflected back to us through these amazing animals.”
Joint quote from Rhett Butler, David Brown and Megan Strauss of Mongabay: “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with such a diverse group of talented artists and actors in telling the stories of these interesting and charismatic animals,” said the team at Mongabay. “We hope Endangered inspires the next generation of activists and conservation heroes to take concrete actions to save these and other species from extinction.” “The L.A. Zoo is proud to be a part of the ENDANGERED podcast, helping bring attention to lesser-known endangered animals through thoughtful storytelling that otherwise might never be told,” states Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association’s President Tom Jacobson. “It’s important for us to inspire youth in conservation and stewardship through different avenues. Whether a visit to your local zoo or listening to the ENDANGERED stories, these are all great opportunities to educate and energize future generations”
Quote from Lisa Mills, a Wildlife Conservation specialist with the University of Montana Broader Impacts Group: “So often when we think of endangered species we think of the large, iconic species that are featured in the news and in documentaries. Is there any less value to be placed on the life of a tiny frog that is disappearing than, say, a rhino or an elephant? Could bringing attention to species that live in relative obscurity be just as important for us to learn about? I believe so. Storytelling is such a great way to learn about these lesser known endangered inhabitants of the Earth.”