Researchers Uncover the Complex Emotional Lives of Animals

From baboons to beagles, new studies challenge long-held beliefs about animal sentience and consciousness.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Researchers are challenging the long-held view that attributing human emotions to animals is unscientific 'anthropomorphism.' New studies are revealing the surprisingly complex inner lives of a wide range of species, from baboons and hawks to lobsters and crabs. This episode explores the latest findings on animal sentience, pain perception, and even odd-couple friendships, offering a window into the emotional worlds of our fellow creatures.

Why it matters

Understanding animal emotions and consciousness has profound implications, from how we treat animals in research and captivity to our own human exceptionalism. As scientists uncover more about the rich inner lives of diverse species, it's forcing us to rethink our relationship with the natural world and our assumptions about what it means to be human.

The details

The episode features interviews with several researchers at the forefront of animal emotion studies. Primatologist Christine Webb discusses the shift away from dismissing animal emotions as 'anthropomorphism,' and the insights she's gained from studying baboon social cognition. Reporter Sophia Schmidt reports on the unlikely friendship between a red-tailed hawk and a turkey vulture at the Elmwood Park Zoo. And journalist Melanie Kaplan shares her investigation into the world of animal research, sparked by adopting a beagle who had spent years in a lab. The episode also explores new research on whether decapod crustaceans like crabs and lobsters are capable of experiencing pain.

  • The episode was published on February 27, 2026.

The players

Christine Webb

An assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at New York University and the author of the new book 'The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why it Matters.'

Hunter

A red-tailed hawk living at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Stan

A turkey vulture living at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pennsylvania, who has formed an unlikely friendship with the red-tailed hawk Hunter.

Melanie Kaplan

A journalist who investigated the world of animal research after adopting a beagle named Hammy who had spent the first four years of his life in a lab. She is the author of the book 'Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research.'

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What they’re saying

“When I was in college, I was taught that it was 'unscientific' to investigate animal emotions — but that attitude has started to change.”

— Christine Webb, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, New York University (whyy.org)

“It's easy enough to believe that animals like cats and dogs have feelings — but what about less cuddly creatures, like crabs, lobsters, and shrimp?”

— Liz Tung, Pulse Reporter (whyy.org)

What’s next

Researchers plan to continue investigating the emotional and cognitive capabilities of a wide range of animal species, challenging long-held assumptions about human exceptionalism and the divide between humans and other creatures.

The takeaway

As scientists uncover more about the rich inner lives of diverse species, it's forcing us to rethink our relationship with the natural world and our assumptions about what it means to be human. Understanding animal emotions and consciousness has profound implications for how we treat animals in research, captivity, and in our daily lives.