The California Condor has been brought back from the brink of extinction by dedicated conservation efforts over the past 30 years. Now, this critically endangered species is the latest victim of the H5N1 bird flu which is racing round the world. California Condor Coordinator Ashleigh Blackford and wildlife veterinarian Dr Samantha Gibbs from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discuss their last-ditch efforts to vaccinate the birds against H5N1.

Huge 40,000 km plumes of water ice have been imaged erupting from Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Dr. Sara Faggi, a postdoctoral Researcher in the Solar System Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, dives into this incredible new observation from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Dr Pierre Galand from France’s Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls has been part of a two-and-a-half-year expedition to sample the microorganisms in coral reefs across the world. His new research shows that this tiny life is much more diverse than previously understood and may be essential to life of the coral reefs. And, much deeper in the Ocean, researchers estimate that there are over 5000 unnamed species in the world’s largest mineral exploration region, the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. Muriel Rabone and Dr Adrian Glover from the Natural History Museum in London talk to Roland about this region of stunning biodiversity and the hope to protect it.

Contributors:
Ashleigh Blackford, California Condor Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Dr Samantha Gibbs, wildlife veterinarian, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
Dr. Sara Faggi, Postdoctoral Researcher, Solar System Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Dr Pierre Galand, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques
Muriel Rabone, Data and Sample Coordinator, SCAN. Life Sciences Division, Natural History Museum London
Dr Adrian Glover, Merit Researcher, Invertebrates Division, Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum London

Image: An adult and juvenile California condor
Credit: Loi Nguyen

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Ella Hubber

Editor: Richard Collings