What The Duck?!

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 Producer

Clive Wynne, a Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University, dives deep into the fascinating dynamics between dogs and humans. He discusses the emotional bonds that drive dogs' loyalty and explores whether they can truly be heroic in distress. The conversation reveals how dogs' unique emotional intelligence has evolved alongside humans, highlighting their instinctive behaviors and expressive eyes that enhance communication. Wynne also contrasts the cooperative nature of wolves with the distinct traits of domestic dogs, shedding light on their extraordinary connections with us.

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 University of OxfordDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageDr. Elaine Ostrander, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US)Dr Heidi Parker, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive Producer

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 of OxfordDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageProfessor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive Producer

A new series from What the Duck?! is coming soon.Dr Ann Jones is exploring the connection between humans and dogs and asking how our destinies became intertwined.How did we get pugs from wolves?How did the howling creatures of our nightmares become floppy eared, tail wagging good boys and girls?From the very first archaeological evidence of 'beloved family pet' to the paw-pushing communication buttons on YouTube… this is a look at the true nature of the relationship with man's best friend.

How does a snake climb a pole? It's not like they have a ladder... or arms.It turns out that snakes have some pretty crazy skills when it comes to climbing anything and everything.The Island of Guam had between two and four million brown tree snakes in the 1980s, leading to all sorts of issues for the birds and the environment.Guests:Dr Aaron Collins- Assistant State Director Guam/Western Pacific Theatre at USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesProfessor Kristin Y. Pettersen- Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and System at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)Stuart McKenzie - Director/Owner at The Snake Catcher Sunshine CoastProfessor Bruce C. Jayne- Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati.Charlie and Olivia, Board game players.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editing.Additional mastering:  Hamish Camilleri.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast on the 5th of March 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. 

Would you meet a stranger in a park with a pile of snakes? Comedian Craig Quartermaine took the risk in an attempt to overcome his fears.Featuring:Craig Quartermaine, comedian. Sandy Dickinson, Urban Reptiles.Jonathan Wright, announcer's voice. Production:Ann Jones, presenter/producer.Petria Ladgrove, producer.Joel Werner, script editor.Field recording: Dylan Prins.Additional mastering: Angie Grant.This episode was originally broadcast in 2023.This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Yuggera, Turrbal and Kaurna people.

Have you heard of the Kookaburra that conquered Hollywood?Yes- that was a kookaburra at the start of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.But WHY?  Dr Ann Jones is on a mission to find out.Featuring:Ella Loeffler, Film and Bird Watcher. Dr Maggie Watson, Ornithologist, ecologist, fantasy fiction fan. Assoc Professor Cameron Webb,  Mosquito Wrangler, NSW Health and University of Sydney.Professor John W. Fitzpatrick, Emeritus Director, Cornell Lab of Ornithology,James Currie, Sound Recordist / Editor. With extra sounds from Listener: Jesse CotterilMovie Sounds:The Wizard of Oz (1939) Metro-Goldwyn-MayerCharlie's Angels (2000) Columbia PicturesTarzan and the Green Goddess (1938) Burroughs-Tarzan EnterprisesRaiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Paramount PicturesThe Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) Universal Pictures/ Amblin EntertainmentFinding Nemo (2003) Pixar Animation/ Walt Disney PicturesLord of the Rings - Return of the Kings (2003) New Line CinemaMary Poppins (1964) Walt Disney PicturesSkippy (1968) Fauna ProductionsHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) Warner BrothersProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editing.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. 

Spiders have gravity-defying ninja skills, they can hear without ears and they work together to gang up on huge prey.Spiders are murder machines!Featuring:Dr Kate Umbers, Western Sydney University.Dr Alfonso Aceves-Aparicio, University Hamburg.Dr Jay Stafstrom, Cornell University.Dr Lena Grinsted, University of Portsmouth.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editor. Additional mastering: Angela Grant. This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people and was first broadcast on the 17th of December 2022. 

A tiny penis, a 12-hour annual fertilisation window, picky females and strawberry bubble bath – these are just a few of the issues that pop up when making a panda cub.Featuring:Chad Crittle, Acting Assistant Curator for Carnivores and Ungulates at Zoos SA.Mr Li Zhang, Consul, Head of Bilateral Section at the Chinese Consulate-General in Adelaide.Dr Meghan Martin Wintle, Director, Conservation Ecologist at PDX Wildlife.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering:  Carey Dell.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast on April the 1st 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people. The pandas, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, are no longer at the Adelaide Zoo. They've been replaced with new pandas, Xing Qiu and Yi Lan.