Elephants have a 'secret language'

[bijou]

While most are familiar with the elephant's trumpeting call the animals also emit growls, according to researchers at San Diego Zoo.

However, two-thirds of the partly audible call is at frequencies that are too low to be picked up by human ears.


To learn more about the inaudible part of the growl, the team attached a microphone sensitive to these low frequencies and a GPS tracking system to eight of the zoo's female elephants.

The researchers could then correlate the noises the animals were making with what they were doing.

Matt Anderson, who led the project, said: "We're excited to learn of the hierarchy within the female herd and how they interact and intercede with one another."

The team has already learned that pregnant females use this low frequency communication to announce to the rest of their herd when they go into labour. ...

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Doubtless, they are plotting behind our backs. :D

[SaintLouieWoman]

Female elephants are only in season for around four days every four years and these infrasonic calls can be heard by males more than two miles away

This would be an interesting study---to identify the sounds emitted when the females are ready for breeding. At the zoo, they check the hormone levels.

Our zoo was lucky again. We have another baby elie on the way.

[bijou]

This would be an interesting study---to identify the sounds emitted when the females are ready for breeding. At the zoo, they check the hormone levels.

Our zoo was lucky again. We have another baby elie on the way.

It would be handy to know when they go into labour too, you would be able to pop in and help at just the right time rather than waiting around. :)

[JB]

You should see their handshake.

[Rockntractor]

I'll study my sister in law and see if this is true.