Cold-blooded Cognition and Conservation with Dr. Anna Wilkinson

The PrimateCast

Have you ever wondered whether tortoises yawn contagiously? Or what reptile memory might be like? Or even what impact reptile cognition may have on ecosystem processes?
No?
Well, Dr. Anna Wilkinson has, and she shares her thoughts with us on this episode of The PrimateCast.
A-MAZE-ing Moses…
In the interview, Dr. Wilkinson talks about how her interest in studying reptile cognition arose, how Alexandra the red-footed tortoise failed to spread yawns contagiously, and how tortoise cognitive abilities can still amaze under the right experimental conditions.
In the second part of the interview, she also discusses the implications of her work for improving reptile welfare and conservation.
Anna Wilkinson is Associate Professor of Animal Cognition and leader of the cold-blooded cognition laboratory at the University of Lincoln. She has also been awarded an Ig Nobel prize in 2011 for her work on (no) contagious yawning in the Red-footed tortoise.
Photo Credit: Anna Wilkinson / Moses / University of Lincoln

The PrimateCast is hosted and produced by Andrew MacIntosh. Artwork by Chris Martin. Music by Andre Goncalves. Credits by Kasia Majewski.

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