What The Duck?!

The fear of being eaten by an animal is so visceral that a mass psychosis, featuring a monkey man, once swept across Delhi.But in the event of an actual attack, investigators look for specific forensic clues to identify which predator was responsible.Was the perpetrator human or animal? Or in one infamous case in the US, was it human … or owl?Featuring:Phoebe Judge, host of the podcast CriminalEuan Ritchie, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin UniversityMary Roach, author of Animal Vegetable CriminalProfessor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, IndiaProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Leonardo da Pinchy is a literal cat burglar with more than 350 pieces of evidence against him — evidence that's easy to confirm because when he steals his neighbour's underwear, he brings it home with a satisfied look of great pride.Steven Seagull is banned from the local corner store after a six-year beef-flavoured-chip-thieving spree.Then there are the monkeys holding phones hostage for fruit juice.These aren't the only creatures with a criminal record — far from itSo when animals steal, what is driving their behaviour?Featuring:Dr Neeltje Boogert, associate professor in animal behaviour at the University of ExeterHelen North and Leonardo da PinchyJulia Henning, PhD candidate at the University of AdelaideProfessor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, IndiaProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Pigs tried for murder, weevils expelled from heaven and how a bloke dressed as an executed French monkey became mayor of an English town.Topsy the elephant travelled the US performing for cheering circus-goers, but when her drunken trainer rode her into town wreaking havoc, was that her poor decision-making … or his?Content warning: This program contains stories where animals are punished as if they are criminals. Some listeners may find this confronting.Featuring:Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty PigsDr Michelle Granden, psychologistStuart Drummond, former Mayor of Hartlepool UKProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Dr Ann Jones is bringing true crime and natural history together with Nature's Most Wanted, a new series from What the Duck!? investigating when animals get on the wrong side of the law.From cats stealing underwear to roosters accused of witchcraft; human-eaters to parrots with opioid addiction; this series promises to get to the bottom of why animals turn to crime.Dr Ann Jones examines the history of animals on trial in human courts, the responsibilities humans take when an animal goes rogue, and ultimately how we think of animals and ourselves.Hear the evidence of episode one on Friday, March 20.What the Duck?! is recorded and produced on the lands of the Kulin Nation.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Join What the Duck?! at a science comedy debate called Sci Fight.Sci Fight brings scientists and comedians together to examine serious topics in a silly way.The topic up for debate is that nature doesn't care where an animal is from.Featuring:Alanta Colley, science communicator, host and founder of Sci FightAffirmative:Aaron Agostini, biologist and researcher at the University of MelbourneRose Bishop, stand-up comedian and writerLukian Adams, aquatic ecologist and PhD student at the University of MelbourneNegative:Trish Koh, fish ecologist at the University of MelbourneRowan Thambar, stand-up comedian and writerAdam McKenzie, actor, writer, and comedianProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerWith thanks to Richard Girvan and Luke WoollettThis episode of What the Duck?! was recorded and produced on the land of the Kulin Nation.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

At first, you might think it is a plot from a zombie movie: that undead animals are coming for you.But it turns out that Australia's animals aren't just dangerous when they're alive — they can be deadly even when they're dead.Ann Jones is joined by science reporter Belinda Smith to examine why snakes can still bite up to 45 minutes after death and are potentially dangerous for years.Think we're lying? Belinda found a guy whose great aunt (and her dog) were killed by a decapitated snake!So if a snake could commit multiple murders from beyond the grave, what other animals are going to get you?Featuring:Ray Miller, relative died after being bitten by a dead snakeDr Christina Zdenek, Australian Reptile AcademyProfessor Kylie Pitt, Griffith UniversityDr Olaf Meynecke, Griffith UniversityLen Zell, retired marine scientist and author of Australian Wildlife — RoadkillProduction:Belinda Smith, ABC Science Reporter/ProducerAnn Jones, Presenter/ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Hamish CamilleriThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri and Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Bush rats are not black rats — that's the first thing you need to know.Ann Jones is joined by ABC Top 5 scientist Dr Patrick Finnerty to understand why researchers are going around sniffing bush rats — and how it might help reintroduce them to Sydney's nature reserves.Find out more about the Top 5 science media residency here.Featuring:Dr Patrick Finnerty, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyProfessor Peter Banks, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyAssociate Professor Thomas Newsome, conservation ecologist at the University of SydneyMareshell Wauchope, PhD student at University of SydneyProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Eora and Kulin Nations.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Marion Anstis pursued her love of tadpoles and frogs on afternoons and weekends, writing papers for scientific journals despite not studying zoology at university.When she retired from her job as a music teacher, she finally had the time to pack her campervan and travel the country, chasing wet seasons and documenting the frogs she found.The result of that fastidious research venture is her PhD and the froggy bible, Tadpoles and Frogs of Australia.In 2022 her contribution to the field was recognised with the genus Anstisia named after her, a group of frogs that lay their eggs on the ground.Featuring:Dr Marion Anstis, herpetologist and authorProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

From the rolling hills of country Ireland to rolling waves beneath her boat docked in Hobart, Dr Diane Purcell has explored the most extreme places algae survive.She's also explored the prospect of its survival away from Earth when she worked at NASA studying extremophiles.Some of Diane's earliest research was looking at algae behaviour when it's kind of sleep deprived, and algae that will eat so much it will literally explode!She's also dealt with the ebb and flow of research work by moving to Darwin and working as a high school science teacher.Featuring:Dr Diane Purcell, Project Manager of the Remediation Section, Science and Technical Branch, at the Environment Protection AuthorityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Peter Menkhorst is the mammalogist who wrote the birding bible, The Australian Bird Guide.As a boy, Peter would go birdwatching with his dad, setting up in a hide before dawn to observe malleefowl tending their mounds — and ignoring ongoing attacks from mosquitoes!His professional work ranged from surveying mammals and developing National Parks, to ecological research and managing over-abundant koalas, while also leading conservation work to protect the orange-bellied parrot, the regent honeyeater and the helmeted honeyeater.Peter still keeps a list of the birds he sees, in the hardcover notebook his grandmother gave him when he was 11.Featuring:Peter Menkhorst, zoologist and authorProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Every superhero has their origin story, and a superhero of science is no different…From watching slater bugs and catching non-venomous snakes in her garden just outside Toronto in Canada, to harnessing lizards with palm fronds in the Caribbean, Tanya Latty was always going to study animals.But it wasn't until an invertebrate zoology class that her "mind exploded" and her passion for entomology became clear.She went to the Rocky Mountains to study mountain pine beetles for her PhD — where she also accidentally studied bears and cougars up close.These days Tanya is based in Australia and raises awareness and understanding of invertebrates after bushfires.This is the origin story of Associate Professor Tanya Latty.Featuring:Associate Professor Tanya Latty, entomologist and insect ecologist at the University of SydneyProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Nineties kids didn't dawdle on the way home from school in the afternoon. This was the age of appointment television, and that appointment was with Totally Wild.From 1992 it was beloved afternoon viewing for almost 30 years, hosted with a massive smile (and a decent fringe) by Ranger Stacey.Every superhero has their origin story, and a superhero of environmental education is no different…From the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, to holding her own with cranky carpet-faced puppet Agro, and then hosting her own TV show for 29 years.This is the origin story of Ranger Stacey Thomson.Featuring:Ranger Stacey Thomson, environmental educator, Redland City CouncilProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

The influence of selective breeding by humans has created a doggo for every occasion, but it's not without problematic results.Some breeds have breathing difficulties, hip problems, aggression, or anxiety. There are dogs with ADHD and others with depression.Does our longest-term relationship need couples therapy?Featuring:Dr. Annika Bremhorst, founder of Dogs and Science, and canine scientist at the University of BernProfessor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityDr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of MelbourneProfessor Chris Johnson, the University of TasmaniaMichael Worboys, Emeritus Professor at the University of ManchesterWith thanks to Paula Pérez Fraga at Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary for audio from Family pigs' and dogs' reactions to human emotional vocalizations:a citizen science studyFurther reading:Associations between Domestic-Dog Morphology and Behaviour Scores in the Dog Mentality AssessmentSolitary working hunting dogs show a higher tendency for magnetic alignment, with decreased alignment in older dogsProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerJacinta Bowler, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2025 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

This is the story of the domesticated animal that feralised itself.Where did dingoes come from and when?Where does a wild dog stop and a dingo begin?How much can genetics really tell us about Australia's only native dog — and how long do you have to live somewhere to be 'native'?Featuring:Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageKelly Ann Blake, Wadawurrung woman, and Jack the DingoProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of OxfordProfessor Euan Ritchie, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerJacinta Bowler, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2025 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

Are puppy dog eyes really a sign of love, or does Fido just want a lil snack?Can dogs really "speak" by pressing talking buttons, or do they just make great content for TikTok?There's more to canine communication than howls and growls — and a wagging tail could be telling you more than you think.Featuring:Dr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of MelbourneProfessor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityAssociate professor Federico Rossano director of the comparative cognition lab at the University of California San DiegoProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2025 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.