Monkey Mystery: The Case of the Capuchin Kidnappers episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 1, 2025 · 23 MIN

Monkey Mystery: The Case of the Capuchin Kidnappers

from Sidedoor · host Smithsonian Institution

Why are capuchin monkeys kidnapping howler monkey babies in Panama? We investigate this bizarre case of primate abduction with researchers working with the Smithsonian to get to the bottom of this bizarre behavior. We'll talk about their discoveries, the social dynamics between capuchins and howler monkeys, and the bizarre island conditions that might be driving this behavior. Is it boredom? Is it social learning? Or is something else entirely at play? Travel with us to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama to uncover this monkey mystery!Guests: Zoë Goldsborough, visiting researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and a behavioral ecologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Brendan Barrett, visiting researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and an evolutionary behavioral ecologist and evolutionary anthropologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior 

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Oct 1, 2025

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Monkey Mystery: The Case of the Capuchin Kidnappers

0:00 23:14

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Sidedoor?

This episode is 23 minutes long.

When was this Sidedoor episode published?

This episode was published on October 1, 2025.

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Sidedoor episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!