Canadian scientists from the University of Western Ontario have discovered who inspires the greatest fear in wild animals in Africa. The result was predictable and surprising at the same time. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Current Biology (CurBio).
Experts made recordings of the sounds of various animals in the savannah and human speech and observed the reactions of representatives of the African fauna. It was revealed that 95% of animals tend to leave their location and run away when they hear the sound of human speech.
Biologists have found that the human voice scares even rhinos, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, zebras and wild boars, as well as lions and elephants. At the same time, animals leave water bodies to avoid meeting humans.
“Fear of man is deep-rooted and pervasive. There is an idea that animals will get used to humans if they are not hunted. But we have proven that this is not the case,” said ecobiologist Michael Clinchy, lead author of the study.
Scientists have also noted interesting effects. For example, recording a lion’s roar angered an elephant so much that it found the scientific equipment and chewed it.
The problem of relationships between humans and wildlife will worsen as humans occupy more and more natural areas, the researchers added.
The first scientists in South Africa filmed In the photo there is a unique pink elephant calf.