What The Duck?!

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 Pigs
Dr Michelle Granden, psychologist
Stuart Drummond, former Mayor of Hartlepool UK
Production:
Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
Rebecca McLaren, Producer
Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer
This 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.

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.

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 Fight
Affirmative:
Aaron Agostini, biologist and researcher at the University of Melbourne
Rose Bishop, stand-up comedian and writer
Lukian Adams, aquatic ecologist and PhD student at the University of Melbourne
Negative:
Trish Koh, fish ecologist at the University of Melbourne
Rowan Thambar, stand-up comedian and writer
Adam McKenzie, actor, writer, and comedian
Production:
Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
Rebecca McLaren, Producer
Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer
With thanks to Richard Girvan and Luke Woollett
This 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.

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 could commit multiple murders from beyond the grave, what other animals are going to get you?
Featuring:
Ray Miller, relative died after being bitten by a dead snake
Dr Christina Zdenek, Australian Reptile Academy
Professor Kylie Pitt, Griffith University
Dr Olaf Meynecke, Griffith University
Len Zell, retired marine scientist and author of Australian Wildlife — Roadkill
Production:
Belinda Smith, ABC Science Reporter/Producer
Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer
Petria Ladgrove, Producer
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri
This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri and Kaurna 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.

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 could commit multiple murders from beyond the grave, what other animals are going to get you?
Featuring:
Ray Miller, relative died after being bitten by a dead snake
Dr Christina Zdenek, Australian Reptile Academy
Professor Kylie Pitt, Griffith University
Dr Olaf Meynecke, Griffith University
Len Zell, retired marine scientist and author of Australian Wildlife — Roadkill
Production:
Belinda Smith, ABC Science Reporter/Producer
Ann Jones, Presenter/Producer
Petria Ladgrove, Producer
Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri
This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri and Kaurna 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.