Conversations

Slapped by a whale's tail, and other animal adventures

07 May 2025

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Whale and dolphin researcher, Barry McGovern’s love of sea creatures started in Clare, Ireland, when as a child he met the county’s solitary, friendly dolphin, named for the singer Dusty Springfield.Barry grew up in a tiny surfing village where he knew all the bird calls off by heart.His interest in animal science led him to Edinburgh Zoo, where he fed cassowaries and regularly, accidentally spooked a flock of Chilean flamingos.He assisted on a mammal research trip in Namibia, where he learned just how many people are required to take biopsy sample from a giraffe. Eventually he settled on whales, and he learned the lesson that while animals can be lots of fun to study, they come with a heavy research load, and not much time spent out in the wild.Barry has been slapped in the face by a whale’s tail and watched mother humpback whales squirt-feed their calves breast milk like cottage cheese. And he couldn’t be happier. Today, Barry works at the Pacific Whale Foundation, Australia. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. Conversations' EP is Nicola Harrison. Presented by Sarah Kanowski.Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more on the Conversations website.

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Conversations

Slapped by a whale's tail, and other animal adventures

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other episodes from Conversations

Encore: The hidden corners of Emma's Hong Kong — fishing villages, beaches and ancestral graveyards

'The century of foundlings'—what Cynthia found when she went looking maternal family secrets

Spotting the psychopaths, sadists and narcissists in our lives and how to get rid of them

When the magical worlds of Alice Springs and Prague collided

The giant spacecraft on its way to Jupiter's icy moon

Encore: falling in love with a charming fake farmer

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