Radiolab Zoos
Jun 4, 2007
Join NPR science reporter Nell Boyce as she dives into the intriguing world of zoo feeding practices, spotlighting the unique carcass feeding program at Toledo Zoo for carnivores. She reveals how this method aims to mimic natural behaviors and educate the public about food chains. The episode also explores the ethics of feeding methods, contrasting responses from visitors, and the fascinating impact on both animal behavior and brain development in enriched environments. Boyce's insights offer a fresh perspective on our evolving relationship with captive wildlife.
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Gorillas Transformed By Natural Habitat
- David Hancox describes moving gorillas from concrete cages into a naturalistic habitat at Woodland Park Zoo in 1979.
- Kiki, once aggressive, calmed, explored, and behaved like a wild gorilla almost immediately after release.
Enrichment Rapidly Rewires Primate Brains
- Elizabeth Gould's primate enrichment experiments show cages change brains measurable in weeks.
- Monkeys moved from impoverished to enriched environments regrew dendritic complexity within four weeks.
Wild Life Spurs New Neuron Growth
- Wild animals living natural lives recruit more new neurons than caged counterparts.
- Fernando Notbom found free chickadees produced roughly twice as many new neurons as caged birds.
