The chimpanzee who learned American sign language and monkeys in space

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.

We hear about the tests on baby rhesus monkeys which would become some of the most controversial in modern science. Also, the chimpanzee who apparently learned American sign language.

Our guest zoologist Megan McCubbin discusses how ethics around using animals in experiments have changed over the years. And we hear about the two monkeys that were sent into space in the late 1950s.

Also the campaign to get chimps listed as endangered, and the murder of the mountain gorilla scientist Dian Fossey. Finally in this week's Sporting Witness, we learn why Manchester City fans started taking inflatable bananas to games in the late 80s.

Contributors:

Harry Harlow - psychologist.

Roger Fouts - worked with Washoe the chimpanzee.

Megan McCubbin - zoologist and author.

Dr Ron Nowak - led the team which declared chimpanzees endangered.

Lieutenant Joe Guion - commander of the USS Kiowa.

Kelly Stewart - Dian Fossey’s colleague.

Dr Gary James - football historian.

Imre Varadi - former Man City striker.

(Photo: Monkeys Able and Baker at a press conference to mark their return from space. Credit: Keystone/Getty Images)