Saving Wildlife with Sam
Get to know the extraordinary people who dedicate their lives to save wildlife and the places they call home. We go beyond the headlines to uncover their wildest encounters, toughest challenges, and what keeps them hopeful in the fight for nature.
Saving Wildlife with Sam
Louisa Ponnampalam: From dolphin dreams to conservation reality in Malaysia
Most marine biologists dream of studying dolphins. Dr. Louisa Ponnampalam actually did it - and discovered that saving wildlife requires far more than science.
Louisa shares her journey from teenage "dolphin obsession" to founding and running Marecet, Malaysia's leading marine mammal conservation organization. She opens up about the steep learning curve from field researcher to organizational leader, the surprising skills conservation work demands, and why protecting animals means understanding the humans around them.
In this conversation:
→ The baby dugong encounter that took 11 years to happen
→ Why marine mammals are legally protected but their habitats aren't
→ Building trust with fishermen to reduce dolphin bycatch
→ The reality of conservation funding and facing "get a real job" criticism
→ Making marine conservation accessible to marginalized communities
Key timestamps: [UPDATE WITH FINAL TIMES]
0:00 - The baby dugong encounter
8:00 - Why Louisa founded Marecet and filling knowledge gaps
10:30 - The turning point: Conservation is more than science
25:00 - Working with fishermen on bycatch solutions
32:00 - Marine debris and habitat threats
40:00 - Getting research into policy and protected areas
44:00 - Learning to lead and communicate
53:00 - "Just because it's never been done doesn't mean it can't be done"
About Louisa: Dr. Louisa Ponnampalam is a Pew Fellow and co-founder of Marecet, living the childhood dream she never gave up on. She's spent nearly two decades researching dolphins, dugongs, and whales, and has helped establish multiple internationally recognized marine protected areas in Malaysia while training the next generation of homegrown marine conservationists.
Learn more about Marecet:
- Website: https://www.marecet.org/
- Donate: https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs/dolphins-and-dugongs/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marecet-research-organization/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marecetresearchorganization
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marecet/
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Weddell Seal audio from NOAA