July 11, 2019
You must have already heard about monkeys and other primates who possess amazing human skills. For example, some chimpanzees are able to solve arithmetic puzzles, while others make abstract pictures.
As it turns out, monkeys are not the only animals that can learn things mainly distinctive to humans.
Pat Stornebrink / Shutterstock.com
Researchers at St. Andrews University (Scotland) taught three seals – Zola, Gandalf, and Jenice – to sing. They have trained the animals since birth.
Scientists have discovered that gray seals can imitate the sound of human words and melodies. First, the researchers compiled full-fledged compositions from the screams of other seals, then the animals were taught to imitate individual notes, and then to reproduce the whole melody.
Today, the repertoire of Janice, Zola, and Gandalf includes a musical theme from Star Wars and a popular lullaby Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. That said, hardly anyone will be able to fall asleep with such a lullaby!
The animal's performance may sound somewhat eery, but, apparently, the singing seals try very hard to perform the entire melody.
Who knows, perhaps in the near future, researchers will be able to teach these marine inhabitants to pronounce entire words. Do you think they will succeed in this? Or, more precisely, evolve into this?
Share this incredible post with your friends and let them hear the charming melody of singing seals!
