Prepare to be amazed by the incredible findings of a team of bioacoustics researchers at the University of Saint-Etienne in France! In collaboration with a colleague from University Lyon, they have discovered that Nile crocodiles respond to a wide range of baby mammal cries, including those of humans. Their groundbreaking study, published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, involved testing crocodile reactions to recordings of crying babies at CrocoParc in Agadir, Morocco.
Prior research has already shown that crocodiles are drawn to the sound of distress in their prey, eagerly heading towards it in hopes of an easy meal. However, this new study aimed to investigate whether crocodiles would respond similarly to other creatures that are not typically their prey.
To unravel this mystery, the researchers compiled a collection of recordings featuring distressed cries from babies of various species, including chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans. The human recordings even included crying infants receiving vaccinations, both at home and at a pediatric office.
With their recordings in hand, the team ventured to CrocoParc in Morocco, a remarkable outdoor facility housing over 300 crocodiles. In this natural-like environment, the crocs are free to roam and behave as if they were in the wild. The researchers set up speakers throughout the park and played the recordings, carefully observing the crocodiles’ reactions.
The results were astonishing! The majority of the crocs responded to the recordings, with heightened urgency when exposed to highly stressed cries. Interestingly, most of them reacted immediately, especially when the cries indicated that an infant might be in serious trouble.
One crocodile, possibly a female, stood out from the rest. After heading towards the speaker emitting the infant cries, she suddenly turned around and faced the other crocodiles that had also responded. The researchers suggest that this behavior resembles a mother protecting her young.
In conclusion, this research team has uncovered the universality of baby cries and shed light on the long-standing history of crocodiles consuming infants who stray too far from parental protection. Prepare to be captivated by the wonders of nature!
