How climate change affects animal migration

This episode explores the phenomenon of animal migration and its surprising connection to climate change. The hosts discuss the Great Migration of wildebeest, questioning the number of animals involved (1.5 million, not 2.5 million as initially guessed). More significantly, the conversation pivots to shark migration, highlighting research showing that sharks travel vast distances, for instance, from Australia to South Africa. Experts explain that animals migrate for various reasons, including food, mating, and giving birth. Against this backdrop, the discussion reveals that shark migration, and animal migration in general, plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration, acting as a "secret weapon" against climate change. By protecting migrating animals, we could remove and store significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere, potentially up to 6 gigatons annually—about 60% of what some scientists believe is necessary to meet climate goals. This underscores the importance of conservation efforts in mitigating climate change.