What The Duck?!

ABC Australia
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  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The show with a mission to explore the mysteries of nature - especially the ones that make you go What the Duck?!

  1. Nature's Most Wanted: Wild, but not free

    1 DAY AGO

    Nature's Most Wanted: Wild, but not free

    A lost monkey in an Ikea carpark is an illegally traded pet, so does he have a legal owner? When it comes to animal ownership, courts turn to Roman-era laws to try and figure out if an animal is tame or wild. It may work sometimes, but leaves out the modern idea of the animal's best interests. And it doesn't explain how an elephant can have a criminal rap sheet. 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, psychologistMary Roach, author of Animal, Vegetable, CriminalProfessor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, IndiaWith thanks to Dr Michelle Granden whose research inspired the title of this episode And extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: Mike Dooher, XC402422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/402422 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Production: 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.

    26 min
  2. Nature's Most Wanted: Trunk and disorderly

    16 APR

    Nature's Most Wanted: Trunk and disorderly

    How much booze does it take to intoxicate an elephant? The answer isn't as much as you might expect, because not all guts are created equal when it comes to metabolising alcohol. This explains why an elephant might be considered a lightweight and your donkey got into a fight last weekend. But alcohol isn't the only cause of misbehaviour — so what motivated the legless serial doorbell pranksters? Featuring: Dr Mareike Janiak,  postdoctoral associate at the University of CalgaryDr Christine Sutton, particle physicist and past editor of CERN CourierKate Connolly, Berlin correspondent for the Guardian NewspaperDr Imogen Cavadino, freelance malacologistWith news audio thanks to NPR And extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: Mike Dooher, XC355140. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/355140 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Lonnie Bregman, XC373738. Accessible at  www.xeno-canto.org/373738 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Mike Dooher, XC402422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/402422 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Frank Lambert, XC1031363. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1031363 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0)Production: 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.

    26 min
  3. Nature's Most Wanted: Fowl play with real-life angry birds

    9 APR

    Nature's Most Wanted: Fowl play with real-life angry birds

    Forget feathered friends — these are our feathered foes. They can wield knives, get involved in the world of organised crime and drug dealing, and even shut down the Large Hadron Collider. But the most pressing question is, why did the duck cross the road at speeds so high local law enforcement was on the case? Featuring: Dr Christine Sutton, particle physicist and past editor of CERN CourierMary Roach, author of Animal, Vegetable, CriminalDr Laura Adams, psychology instructor at Langara CollegeProfessor Dina Siegel, criminology at Utrecht UniversityDr Amber Lee, avian & exotic animal veterinarian at The Unusual Pet VetsSven Montgomery, Police Inspectorate, municipality of KönizWith extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: David m, XC116357. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/116357 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0)David m, XC164431. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/164431 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0)Romuald Mikusek, XC912877. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/912877 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Daniel Parker, XC949456. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/949456 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Ray Cooke, XC1058578. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1058578 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Production: Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHarvey O'Sullivan, 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.

    26 min
  4. Nature's Most Wanted: Murder (but not crows)

    2 APR

    Nature's Most Wanted: Murder (but not crows)

    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, IndiaProfessor Satish Kr. Verma, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Amrita University in Faridabad, IndiaWith extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: Barry Edmonston, XC1001471. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1001471 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Production: 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.

    26 min
  5. Nature's Most Wanted: Cat burglars and robber duckies 

    26 MAR

    Nature's Most Wanted: Cat burglars and robber duckies 

    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 it So 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, IndiaWith extra sounds from bird enthusiasts: Romuald Mikusek, XC912877. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/912877 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Мітла Андрій Володимирович, XC915767. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/915767 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Eetu Paljakka, XC1087274. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1087274 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)And thanks to Dr Neeltje Boogert for sounds used in the study: Herring gulls respond to the acoustic properties of men's voicesProduction: 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.

    26 min
  6. Nature’s Most Wanted: Odour in the court

    19 MAR

    Nature’s Most Wanted: Odour in the court

    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.

    26 min
  7. INTRODUCING: Nature's Most Wanted

    15 MAR

    INTRODUCING: Nature's Most Wanted

    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.

    3 min

  8. 13 MAR

    Invasive species: a science comedy debate

    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.

    26 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

The show with a mission to explore the mysteries of nature - especially the ones that make you go What the Duck?!

Information

  • Creator
    ABC Australia
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    204
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All right reserved.
  • Show Website
    What The Duck?!

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