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

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 11, 2025

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Why do animals swallow rocks?

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