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 st...

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 Boog...

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, ps...

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....

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...

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 co...

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 Sydn...

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...

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...

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 gr...

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...

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 th...

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...

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 Co...

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 th...

'Man's best friend' sure sounds better than 'obligatory symbiont', but what are the true dynamics at play?There's no denying the bond people feel and the attachment dogs have for their humans, but if we put that beautiful relationship under scientific scrutiny, does it hold up?Can any dog go 'full Lassie' if you (or Timmy) get stuck down a well?Will your dog save you?Featuring:Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityDr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the...

There's designer clothes, but they have nothing on designer dogs!They come in a huge range of shapes and colours and sizes, from the tiny Chihuahua to the Great Dane.In the animal world this much variation usually means different species, but not for dogs — so where did they all come from?And what role did Victorian-era rats play in the development of 'breed standards'?Featuring:Joyce Sullivan, papillon breederWayne Douglas OAM, Afghan Hound breederEsther Joseph, all breeds judgeMichael Worboys emeritus professor the University of ManchesterProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at...

The relationship between humans and big scary wolves has come a long way to give us tiny fluffy lap dogs with very discerning tastes in expensive food.Whose idea was it? Was it the wolves who wanted the warmth of the fire, or the humans who wanted protection from the other scary carnivores?And take a look at the first archaeological evidence of a beloved family pet preserved with its human family for almost 15,000 years!Featuring:Luc Janssens, Specialist in small animal surgery and archaeologistProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University...

Nematodes are found in every environment on Earth and can survive in some seriously extreme conditions.They will come back to life after being frozen for 40 thousand years! WHAT THE DUCK?!There's so much more to these creatures than a chocolate square for an itchy rear end…Sign up here for the nematode appreciation society.Featuring:Dr Mike Hodda, senior principal research scientist, National Research Collections Australia, CSIROBethany Perry, PhD student at the ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity, University of Canberra and CSIROProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / Pr...

CSIRO's National Research Collection in Canberra is where millions of dead things bring life to Australian science.The specimens, collected over many decades, have just been very carefully moved into a new purpose-built facility named Diversity.The What the Duck?! team had a "sticky beak" inside to find DNA extraction robots, extinct birds, predatory flies, and a few thousand slides containing insect genitalia.This episode was recorded in September, before recent announcements were made about CSIRO funding.Featuring:Dr Alicia Grealy, research projects officer, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRODr Keith...