Original version

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

CrowdScience

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Answering your questions about life, Earth and the universe

We take your questions about life, Earth and the universe to researchers hunting for answers at the frontiers of knowledge.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service

BBC World Service News Internet

CrowdScience: Can animals count?

Discussion & Talk

GettyImages-1199481590_crop.jpg

10/09/2022 GMT

Can animals count?

BBC World Service - CrowdScience, Can animals count?

CrowdScience finds out whether there are some creatures that have a way with numbers.

Mathematics and our ability to describe the world in terms of number, shape and measurement may feel like a uniquely human ability. But is it really? Listener Mamadu from Sierra Leone wants to know: can animals count too? 
CrowdScience presenter Marnie Chesterton goes on a hunt to uncover the numerical abilities of the animal kingdom. Can wild lions compare different numbers?  Can you teach bees to recognise and choose specific amounts? And if the answer is yes, how do they do it? Marnie tries to find out just how deep the numerical rabbit hole goes… and comes across a parrot named Alex who is perhaps the most impressive example of animal counting of them all.

Contributors:
Brian Butterworth - emeritus professor of cognitive neuropsychology at University College London
Mai Morimoto - researcher at Queen Mary University of London
Lars Chittka - professor of sensory and behavioural ecology at Queen Mary University of London
Irene Pepperberg - comparative psychologist, and research associate at Harvard University

Sounds:
Lions from Karen McComb, emeritus professor at University of Sussex
Túngara frogs from Michael Ryan, professor of zoology at University of Texa at Austin

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producer: Florian Bohr

Accessibility links

Programme Index

CrowdScience

Can animals count?

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service