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Defenders of the Wild (Season 2)

13 episodes 97%4KCC

Frontline conservation reveals the hidden fight to save fragile ecosystems.

Join conservationist Ivan Carter as he explores wildlife ecosystems under pressure and the people working to protect them. From elusive species to urgent conservation challenges, this season connects field science, rescue, and practical solutions in a way that keeps each discovery building toward a bigger understanding. Sign up to see what it takes to preserve balance in the wild.

Episode guide

13 episodes
1
1Africa's Most Trafficked
Ivan joins a team of wildlife detectives on a sting operation to rescue a pangolin that is being illegally sold. He then learns how these animals are rehabilitated and ultimately released.
23 min
2
2Cheetahs: A Race Against Time
Ivan explores the current state of the fastest animals on earth, their conservation and their future. He participates in the delicate operations of the capture and moving of several individuals.
23 min
3
3Africa's Painted Dogs
Wild dogs are one of Africa's most endangered canines, likely with less than 6,000 remaining in the wild. Ivan engages with a specialist team to participate in an initiative growing their home range.
23 min
4
4The Vulture Market
Vultures are vital to ecosystems, yet their numbers have been plummeting. Ivan heads into an African medicine market where vulture parts are traded and joins research efforts to protect the species.
23 min
5
5Tribal Community Conservation
Ivan visits a community-led conservation initiative that is both cherishing and benefitting from the rewilding of a large landscape.
23 min
6
6Alligator: Beyond the Leather
Alligators were brought to the brink of extinction by the leather trade. Ivan engages with the modern day commercial trade of gators and sees how this practice is securing a future for the species.
23 min
7
7Leopard: Night Stalker
Leopards are incredibly successful predators due to their stealth. Ivan joins a team to attempt to capture and collar a leopard in an area where little is known about these elusive cats: at night.
23 min
8
8Diving with Tigers
The Bahamas is so much more than a beach resort destination. Ivan engages with the locals and learns about the health of the underwater ecosystem, diving with the fiercest predators: Tiger Sharks.
23 min
9
9Desert Hyenas
The Namibian coastline is home to a little known predator—the brown hyena. Ivan spends time at an isolated seal colony where a research project is revealing their secrets.
23 min
10
10Seals: The Plastic Predicament
Namibia is home to Africa's largest seal colonies due to the rich marine life. This abundance leads to competition with humans for resources. Ivan joins an NGO removing plastic from unlucky seals.
23 min
11
11Vervet Monkeys: Urban Pests
In many areas of urban Africa, troops of primates become a severe nuisance. Ivan engages with wildlife managers to explore the realities of this problem and ways to live with these cute pests.
23 min
12
12Technology in Conservation
From high-tech transmitters to advances in immobilization medicine, Ivan explores the many aspects of technology's role in conservation and learns that the future is indeed bright.
23 min
13
13Africa's Most Dangerous
Hippos are notorious for being Africa's most dangerous species but Ivan sets out to dispel that myth—all while capturing them in a remote part of Namibia to better understand their movements.
23 min
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