Dr Phoebe Meagher: Taronga Zoo Embraces AI to Take on the Illegal Animal Trade

This week Nicola and Di chat with the passionate and purposeful Dr. Phoebe Meagher. Phoebe is a scientist at the Taronga Zoo Conservation Society with a diverse background in wildlife conservation, forensic research and education. She has been pioneering the use of advanced technology and AI to combat wildlife trafficking and enhance animal detection. Phoebe has also led many field projects which have had a tangible impact and allowed for the successful release of rehabilitated animals back into their natural habitat. On top of all of that, Phoebe is also a mum of 2. In this conversation, we hear all about the incredible project that Phoebe has been leading, where Taronga is using AI imaging technology to detect and prevent animals that are being illegally trafficked. Phoebe tells us about the astounding wildlife trafficking trade, with thousands of animals, such as blue tongue lizards, being poached and sent through the mail to foreign countries where they are sold for substantial amounts of money. Phoebe also shares some of the most incredible stories from her career as a wildlife biologist. From almost losing an arm whilst hand feeding sharks, to being shocked by numb rays when she was studying sting rays for her PhD thesis as well as the most epic expedition through the jungles of Palawan. On that particular trip, Phoebe was guided by an animal poacher, 8 military guards and a young man wielding a machete in the hopes of finding a pangolin (the most trafficked animal in the world) so they could take the images they needed for the AI tech to prevent it being trafficked in the future.  It is really amazing to hear about all of the conservation work that Taronga is doing and to learn how much zoos have changed for the better over the years. We are so proud of the work that Phoebe is doing and thankful that there are women like her in this world. We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did.  If you love our Over The Back Fence chats, come and hang out with us and some amazing guests at our in person event on the 19th of June at the Woolly Bay Hotel in Sydney. You can buy your tickets here - https://events.humanitix.com/over-the-back-fence-podcast-9r2scfqj/tickets  This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future.  Follow Phoebe on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/phoebe_for_the_wild/ Help fund Targona’s new Wildlife Hospital by donating here - https://taronga.org.au/donate Follow Taronga Zoo on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/tarongazoo/ Follow Taronga Zoo on TikTok here - https://www.tiktok.com/@tarongazoo Follow Taronga Zoo on LinkedIn here - https://au.linkedin.com/company/taronga-conservation-society-australia Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/ Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts Buy your Eir Women products here. Use code OTBF20 at checkout for a 20% discountSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.