From the Vault: Lost Wonders, with Tom Lathan
Summary
Host Robert Lamb interviews author Tom Latham about his book *Lost Wonders*, which chronicles 11 species that went extinct in the 21st century. Latham discusses the St. Helena olive, Pinta Island tortoise, and Christmas Island wildlife, highlighting how isolation and invasive species drove these losses. The conversation also addresses current threats to conservation efforts, including political neglect and the weakening of the Endangered Species Act.
Topics discussed
Intro, ads, and episode overview
Introduction to Lost Wonders and the concept of recent extinction
How the author selected the 11 species for the book
The St. Helena Olive: isolation, evolution, and human impact
Commercial break
The Pinta Island Tortoise: Lonesome George and rediscovery
Christmas Island: wolf snakes and the extinction of bats and skinks
Political threats to conservation and the Endangered Species Act
Outro, credits, and final advertisements
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