Aug 2015: ZSL Scientist Patricia Brekke, polar bear welfare at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, and self-medicating ants The Behavioural Ecology and Evolution Podcast (the Beepcast)

    • Natural Sciences

This month I hear how a wildlife park in Yorkshire is providing the perfect retirement setting for an old polar bear. I discover that social insects make trips to natures pharmacy to fight infections. And in the scientific spark, I talk to Patricia Brekke from the Zoological Society of London, who tells me about her research on the endangered new Zealand bird the Hihi, and what inspired her to become a scientist.




Download the MP3











Victor is Yorkshire Wildlife Park's polar bear. 


He is one of the biggest polar bears in Europe, weighing 500Kg



Quicklinks:



Yorkshire Wildlife Park's Project Polar Bear




Ants medicate to fight disease in the journal Evolution




Patricia Brekke from The Institute of Zoology at the Zoological Society of London

This month I hear how a wildlife park in Yorkshire is providing the perfect retirement setting for an old polar bear. I discover that social insects make trips to natures pharmacy to fight infections. And in the scientific spark, I talk to Patricia Brekke from the Zoological Society of London, who tells me about her research on the endangered new Zealand bird the Hihi, and what inspired her to become a scientist.




Download the MP3











Victor is Yorkshire Wildlife Park's polar bear. 


He is one of the biggest polar bears in Europe, weighing 500Kg



Quicklinks:



Yorkshire Wildlife Park's Project Polar Bear




Ants medicate to fight disease in the journal Evolution




Patricia Brekke from The Institute of Zoology at the Zoological Society of London