Not a Biologist - A Wildlife Behaviour Podcast

What’s it really like to study lemur behavior? What's it like to camp in Madagascar? And why do these primates rub themselves with millipedes, have stink fights, and let the females call the shots? 🐒 In this wildlife podcast, we'll answer it all! In this episode of Not a Biologist, our host Alex is joined by Coral Chell, a primatologist, conservationist, evolutionary anthropologist, science communicator, and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, to explore the wonderfully weird world of lemurs. Alex and Coral talk about what it’s like to spend months in the forests of Madagascar following lemurs, how researchers get to know individual animals and their personalities, and what these fascinating primates can teach us about animal behaviour. Along the way, they discover how some lemurs use millipede secretions for self-medication (with some rather unusual side effects), why male lemurs engage in smelly battles, how lemur societies work in general, and why protecting Madagascar’s unique wildlife matters so much. So, what does a day in the life of a lemur scientist actually look like? And what makes these incredible animals so fascinating? Hit play and find out!More about this episode's expert 🔬💬⬇️:Coral Chell is a primatologist, conservationist, evolutionary anthropologist, and science communicator. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, where she studies lemur behaviour, and the science advisor for "The Lemur Diaries".🔗 Corals YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CoralChell 🔗 Corals Instagram Channel: https://www.instagram.com/conservationtails🎬 More about "The Lemur Diaries"This new three-part nature documentary series co-produced by Terra Mater Studios and Emerge Films. It discovers the resilient and playful lives of lemurs as they navigate survival, adaptation, and conservation in Madagascar’s unique habitats: https://www.terramater.at/productions/lemur-diaries/

Orcas have been invading the arctic, drifting further north as ice melts over the summer months and exposes new hunting grounds for the "Killer Whale". Beluga, Narwhal and Bowhead whales became new food sources for the Orca during these months, creating a new reality not just for the wildlife but for the Inuit communities who live in the far noth of the North American Continent. 12 years ago, the hunting behaviour of these orca was recorded in the nature documentary "Killer Whales - Fins of Change". Steve Ferguson, an arctic marine mammal research scienctist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, watched this footage. Now, 12 years later we brought Steve back to discuss the situation and how it has changed on this episode of Not a Biologist! Not a Biologist is a podcast produced by Terra Mater Studios

In this episode of Not a Biologist, Alex talks to zoologist and science communicator Caroline Reinwald about what really makes chameleons some of the coolest animals on Earth. Caroline Reinwald is a zoologist and science communicator at Vienna Zoo, where she works with some of the world's rarest chameleon species—including animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.From independently moving eyes and lightning-fast projectile tongues to feet built like climbing tongs, chameleons are basically the Inspector Gadgets of the reptile world. Alex and Caroline also bust one of the biggest myths about these colorful reptiles: they don't mainly change color to blend into their surroundings. Instead, their colors are often all about communication, mood, and even temperature regulation.You'll also hear the remarkable story of 70 rare chameleons confiscated from illegal wildlife traffickers at Vienna Airport, how zoo keepers managed to save them, and why protecting these extraordinary reptiles is more important than ever.🦎 Did you know that...chameleons can move each eye independently and track two different things at oncetheir tongue can accelerate to almost 100 km/h in a fraction of a secondthe smallest chameleon fits on the tip of your thumb, while the largest can grow to nearly 70 cm long

In this episode of Not a Biologist, Alex talks to sound recordist and beaver expert Fabian Holzinger about the secret lives of Europe’s largest rodents: the beaver. Together, they explore what happens inside a beaver lodge, why beavers might be better water engineers than humans, and what it’s like to spend hours listening to a sleeping beaver snore. Alex and Fabian discuss beaver family life, underground homes, iron-reinforced teeth, and the surprising sounds these animals make, from sneezes and stomach gurgles to what can only be described as beaver bedtime drama. They also dive into the important role beavers play in restoring ecosystems, preventing droughts, and even helping landscapes recover from wildfires. Fun fact: beavers don't live in their dams. The dam is just a tool; their actual home is a lodge or burrow hidden nearby. 🦫 Did you know that... • beavers' front teeth contain iron and sharpen themselves automatically • they can transform entire ecosystems simply by building dams • a beaver family sounds surprisingly similar to a human household at bedtime Not a Biologist is a Terra Mater Studios wildlife podcast where host Alex sits down with experts to break down fascinating wildlife behaviour using footage straight from our nature documentaries.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🎬 Check out our "Animal Homes" production here: https://www.terramater.at/productions/animal-homes-natural-born-engineers/ 📱 More about the beaver lab here: https://beaverlab.at/

When you hear “hamster,” you probably think of tiny cages, spinning wheels, and sunflower seeds. But wild European hamsters are a completely different story. In this episode of Not a Biologist, Alex talks to wildlife filmmaker Yasmine Ellis about the secret lives of Vienna’s wild hamsters, which are thriving on the city's graveyards. Alex and Yaz will talk about dramatic cemetery fights, underground tunnel systems and also about why one of Europe’s cutest rodents is now critically endangered. We also dive into how you even film these tiny chaos goblins, why Vienna has become one of their last strongholds, and why their sense of smell is far better than their eyesight. Fun fact: the German word “hamstern” literally means “to hoard” and after this episode, you’ll understand exactly why. 🐹 Did you know that... • hamsters are most active at dawn and dusk • are VERY territorial … and surprisingly dramatic • Vienna is one of the last strongholds for European hamsters 🎙️ Not a Biologist is a Terra Mater Studios wildlife podcast where host Alex sits down with experts to break down fascinating wildlife behavior using footage straight from our nature documentaries. 👉🏼 Full episode + bonus content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TerraMater 🎬 Check out our "Wild Vienna" trailer and learn more about the hidden wildlife living right inside Austria’s capital. From wild hamsters in graveyards to urban beavers and foxes, the film reveals a side of Vienna most people never notice: https://youtu.be/QNVn4icwWz8?si=7aHjyHLPo7SkAvkv 🎬 Yaz Ellis’ short film "For Deer Life" follows the volunteers and drone pilots rescuing hidden roe deer fawns from Austrian meadows before mowing season begins. The film shines a light on the collision between modern agriculture and wildlife and the people working to save countless animals every spring. Watch the trailer here: https://www.dreamwildfilms.com/fordeerlife