Why do animals swallow rocks? episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 11, 2025 · 29 MIN

Why do animals swallow rocks?

from CrowdScience · host BBC World Service

What would you discover inside the stomach of a sea lion? CrowdScience listener Robyn found out first-hand when she volunteered at her local museum in Adelaide, Australia. The team dissecting the specimen removed around 30 rocks from the animal’s stomach, and Robyn wants the Crowdscience team to find out how and why they got there. Presenter Anand Jagatia uncovers a whole world of rock-munching creatures, from ostriches to ichthyosaurs. In search of answers we investigate Canadian sea lion research, and rummage through the vaults at the Natural History Museum in Bamberg, Germany.Presented by Anand Jagatia Produced by Emily BirdImage: Australian Sea Lion (Neophoca cinerea), Hopkins Island, South Australia Credit: Stephen Frink via Getty Images

What would you discover inside the stomach of a sea lion? CrowdScience listener Robyn found out first-hand when she volunteered at her local museum in Adelaide, Australia. The team dissecting the specimen removed around 30 rocks from the animal’s stomach, and Robyn wants the Crowdscience team to find out how and why they got there. Presenter Anand Jagatia uncovers a whole world of rock-munching creatures, from ostriches to ichthyosaurs. In search of answers we investigate Canadian sea lion research, and rummage through the vaults at the Natural History Museum in Bamberg, Germany.Presented by Anand Jagatia Produced by Emily BirdImage: Australian Sea Lion (Neophoca cinerea), Hopkins Island, South Australia Credit: Stephen Frink via Getty Images

NOW PLAYING

Why do animals swallow rocks?

0:00 29:47

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 CrowdScience?

This episode is 29 minutes long.

When was this CrowdScience episode published?

This episode was published on April 11, 2025.

What is this episode about?

What would you discover inside the stomach of a sea lion? CrowdScience listener Robyn found out first-hand when she volunteered at her local museum in Adelaide, Australia. The team dissecting the specimen removed around 30 rocks from the animal’s...

Can I download this CrowdScience episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!