Jesse Mulligan

Critter of the Week is a weekly RNZ National programme about endangered and neglected native plants and animals of New Zealand.

Beginning in 2015, Critter of the Week is an approximately 15-minute discussion between Nicola Toki (originally the Department of Conservation Threatened Species Ambassador) and RNZ Afternoons host Jesse Mulligan on an "uncharismatic and lovable" New Zealand species.[1] Despite its name, the show features animals, plants, and fungi, with each species receiving an "attractiveness" score from 1 to 10.[2] The show currently airs on Friday afternoons, and has a regular listenership of 100,000.[2]

Origin and development

Giant Springtail
Leaf-veined Slug
Giselle Clarkson illustrations

The topic of spotlighting uncharismatic species was raised in an interview by Mulligan in April 2015,[3] and the programme originated later in 2015 in a discussion between Mulligan and Toki about threatened bird conservation, in which Toki lamented a lack of attention and corporate funding for species such as the Smeagol gravel maggot.[4] The first episode of Critter of the Week aired on 2 October 2015 and featured the New Zealand bat fly.[5] Each week's broadcast is supported by a team of volunteers, referred to by Mulligan as the "wikinerds", who improve the Wikipedia article for the species in question.[2][6]

In 2018 and in subsequent years artist Giselle Clarkson designed t-shirts and tea towels featuring a selection of species that had appeared on the programme.[7] In September–October 2018, a "Critter of the Week: Bake-off" competition invited listeners to bake a cake in the shape of their favourite "critter".[8] Listeners have also taken part in a "Knit-a-Critter" competition.

Nicola Toki became chief executive of Forest & Bird in April 2022,[9] but continued with the RNZ weekly programme.

Coverage

The Critter of the Week project was the subject of a lightning talk by Mike Dickison for the 2018 ESEAP Conference in Bali, Indonesia.[10] An updated presentation was given at the Wikimedia Australia Melbourne meetup in November 2018.[11] Critter of the Week was discussed as an example of a museum outreach at the 2018 SPNHC conference in Dunedin.[12] Critter of the Week and the role of Wikipedia editors was featured in Forest & Bird magazine in June 2023.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Critter of the Week". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Dickison, Mike (Winter 2023). "Let's talk about critters and Wikinerds". Forest & Bird. 388: 28–30.
  3. ^ Mulligan, Jesse; Dickison, Mike (8 April 2015). ""Charismatic" Conservation – Dr Mike Dickison". RNZ. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  4. ^ Mulligan, Jesse; Toki, Nicola (17 September 2015). "Bird Funding Crisis – Nicola Toki". RNZ. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  5. ^ Mulligan, Jesse; Toki, Nicola (2 October 2015). "Critter of the Week – Nicola Toki". RNZ. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  6. ^ Mulligan, Jesse (26 February 2016). "Wikinerds Explained". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Critter of the Week T-shirts". Radio New Zealand. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Critter of the Week: Bake-off!". Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  9. ^ Forest & Bird (21 January 2022). "Second Nature For New Chief Executive Of Forest & Bird". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Wikipedia in Science". ESEAP Conference 2018. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Melbourne Meetup 37". Wikipedia: Melbourne Meetup. Wikipedia. 11 November 2018.
  12. ^ Dickison, Mike (15 June 2018). ""Critter of the Week": Wikipedia as a Museum Outreach Tool". Biodiversity Information Science and Standards. 2: e25798. doi:10.3897/biss.2.25798.

External links

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