Noisy Zoos May Be Affecting Animals' Reproduction
- 10 years ago
Some animals, such as the rhinoceros, are able to pick up sounds unheard by the human ear. These noises may be causing them to procreate less.
Zoos help keep endangered animals safe, but they may also be preventing those animals from reproducing.
Human-made noises, such as cars and cell phones, may be behind why certain captive animals, specifically the rhinoceros, aren't procreating like they do in the wild.
Visitors to the zoo may also be influencing the animals' reproductive habits because of the constant flow of conversations.
Even though people may think a zoo is serene, rhinos are capable of hearing infrasound, a range the human ear isn't sensitive enough to notice.
Rhinos are able to pick up sounds even at a frequency of four hertz. In comparison, human babies can hear sounds at 20 hertz, and that's if their ears are completely undamaged.
Zoologists in Texas, conducted research on the noise levels of various different environments where animals are kept.
The Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas is known for their success in breeding endangered animals, so the sounds were recorded there to compile a healthy dataset for future comparisons.
According to Suzi Wiseman, who led the research, "The soundscape is something that zoos need to consider and it’s something that can be improved."
Wisemen believes this research will enable her to team to help zoos rethink where they put animals in relation to roadways while also implementing other measures met to help keep habitats quiet and peaceful.
Zoos help keep endangered animals safe, but they may also be preventing those animals from reproducing.
Human-made noises, such as cars and cell phones, may be behind why certain captive animals, specifically the rhinoceros, aren't procreating like they do in the wild.
Visitors to the zoo may also be influencing the animals' reproductive habits because of the constant flow of conversations.
Even though people may think a zoo is serene, rhinos are capable of hearing infrasound, a range the human ear isn't sensitive enough to notice.
Rhinos are able to pick up sounds even at a frequency of four hertz. In comparison, human babies can hear sounds at 20 hertz, and that's if their ears are completely undamaged.
Zoologists in Texas, conducted research on the noise levels of various different environments where animals are kept.
The Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas is known for their success in breeding endangered animals, so the sounds were recorded there to compile a healthy dataset for future comparisons.
According to Suzi Wiseman, who led the research, "The soundscape is something that zoos need to consider and it’s something that can be improved."
Wisemen believes this research will enable her to team to help zoos rethink where they put animals in relation to roadways while also implementing other measures met to help keep habitats quiet and peaceful.