Barn & Soul by Dalby Farm

Barn & Soul Podcast: Episode 30 - Back From the Brink: Species We Thought Were Gone but.. Weren’t?

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🎙 Barn & Soul Podcast - Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future. Episode 30 - Back From the Brink: Species We Thought Were Gone but.. Weren’t?

What if extinction is not always the end of the story?

In this episode of Barn & Soul, Kendall explores some of the most extraordinary conservation rediscoveries of the last century. These are animals and plants once declared extinct that quietly survived in hidden pockets of the world, waiting to be found again.

From a prehistoric fish thought lost for 65 million years, to an insect rescued from a single rock in the Pacific, to species whose survival hinged on one accidental discovery, this episode examines what scientists call “Lazarus species” and why their return matters so deeply.

Grounded in real science and conservation data, this conversation looks at how rediscovered species reshape ecosystems, influence land protection, and challenge the belief that loss is always permanent. Kendall reflects on what these stories teach us about resilience, stewardship, and the responsibility humans carry when life pushes back against the odds.

This episode is a reminder that nature is not passive. She adapts, hides, endures, and sometimes reappears just when we think hope is gone. For farmers, conservationists, and anyone who loves the living world, these stories offer something rare and powerful: cautious, evidence-based optimism.

Resources and Further Reading

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
https://www.iucnredlist.org

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Coelacanth rediscovery and ongoing research.
https://naturalhistory.si.edu

Coelacanth Conservation Council.
Population monitoring and conservation efforts.
https://www.coelacanth.org

Australian Museum and Lord Howe Island Board.
Lord Howe Island stick insect rediscovery and breeding programs.
https://australiamuseum.net.au

https://www.lordhoweisland.info

New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Takahe rediscovery and recovery programs.
https://www.doc.govt.nz

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Black-footed ferret recovery and reintroduction programs.
https://www.fws.gov

Re:wild (formerly Global Wildlife Conservation).
Lost species rediscoveries including the Somali elephant shrew.
https://www.rewild.org

BirdLife International.
Ivory-billed woodpecker assessments and conservation context.
https://www.birdlife.org

National Geographic Society.
Lost Species documentation and field reporting.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com


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