What a head-scratcher!
Animals probably don't speak our language, but they are constantly communicating through movement, sound, smell, behaviour, and choices. The challenge is learning how to read those signals without assuming they think exactly like us.
In this episode of Talking of Science, Helen and Dr C are joined by Mads Frost Bertelsen, Zoological Director at Copenhagen Zoo, who shares what (more than) two decades of working with zoo animals has taught him about animal behaviour, welfare, communication, training and care.
While we might not exactly answer this episode's key question, the conversation takes us from dogs and elephants to polar bears, lions, crocodiles, chimpanzees, and octopuses, revealing just how differently animals experience the world around them, and what we might be able to interpret about what's going on in their minds.
Along the way, Helen, Dr C and Mads also explore what modern animal care involves in a zoo: carefully observing behaviour, creating challenges that keep animals physically and mentally engaged, training animals to cooperate in their own care, and making decisions that reduce stress while supporting their health and wellbeing.
To get in contact with us at Talking of Science, email hello@talkingofscience.dk
To learn more about Copenhagen Zoo, visit https://www.zoo.dk
