Yikes! Chimps Eating Bat Poop? With Disease Detective Dr. Tony Goldberg | Episode 62

Why are chimpanzees in Uganda scooping up bat guano and eating it? This strange behavior, captured on trail cameras and observed over 800 times in a single year, is the fascinating centerpiece of our latest episode with disease ecologist Dr. Tony Goldberg. Tony explains how this bizarre dietary shift is linked to mineral deficiencies in the chimps’ diet, caused by the loss of raffia palm trees due to human activity. What started as a simple agricultural practice has cascaded into a complex ecological ripple effect.

But the story doesn’t end with nutrition. The bat guano, rich in minerals, also contains viruses—some closely related to deadly pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola. Tony walks us through how this newfound behavior offers a window into the early stages of potential pandemics, with implications for both chimpanzee conservation and global health. His research shines a light on the interconnectedness of human actions, animal behavior, and disease emergence.
Join us for a captivating conversation filled with groundbreaking discoveries and urgent lessons for conservation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the unexpected ways our actions impact the natural world.

Tony's lab website

Tony's scientific papers: 

Pediatric Respiratory Pathogens Circulate in Children and Adults in Communities Near Susceptible Wild Great Ape Populations in Uganda

Common cold viruses circulating in children threaten wild chimpanzees through asymptomatic adult carriers

Read more on these subjects:

Chimps are dying of the common cold. Is great ape tourism to blame?

How Ugandan Tobacco Farming Inadvertently Threatens Spread of Bat-Borne Viruses

Photo of Tony in cover picture: Jessica Rothman