A cute baby elephant, just one month old, is now part of a fascinating study at the world’s oldest zoo in Austria. Scientists are using advanced microphones to understand how these gentle giants communicate with each other. The baby elephant, named Kibal, is the focus of the research, as researchers aim to capture the nuances of her interactions with her mother. Their aim is to detect both the audible and inaudible sounds that are part of the elephants’ communication. Watch the video below to learn more about this interesting project.
In a research project focusing on a baby animal named Kibal at Vienna Zoo in Austria, the adorable little creature is shown learning how to communicate with her mother.
Refugees: The new baby elephant at the Vienna zoo has been given the name of a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mother Numbi, 20 years old, has successfully raised two baby elephants since arriving in Vienna in 2009.
Christopher Gorofsky, 24, is currently conducting research for his Masters degree as a part of a long-term project led by a team from the University of Vienna and funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). He mentioned that working at the zoo was ideal, as approaching mother elephants and their young in the wild is extremely challenging and risky.
Angela Stöger-Horwath, the project manager from the Department of Cognitive Biology, explained that their goal is to identify which elephant sounds are instinctual and which are learned. They are also interested in observing if the baby elephant is imitating her mother’s sounds. Elephants are known to have various types of sounds, with the trumpet being the most recognizable.
However, she mentioned that the most frequently heard sound is a deep rumbling noise, similar to a truck engine. The lowest frequency sound is in the infrasound range, which cannot be heard by humans but can be detected with specialized equipment. The focus of the study is on the communication between mother and calf elephants in the zoo. Mr. Gorofsky has been granted unrestricted access to all sections of the elephant enclosure, allowing him to capture the necessary recordings for his research.
Sounds great: Christopher Gorofsky is conducting research for his Master’s degree.
Observation: Researchers have been closely monitoring the interactions between a mother elephant and her baby using advanced microphones to capture the unique sounds they make. The baby elephant, named Kibali after a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, initially made very few sounds but has gradually increased her communication with her mother. If she wants to drink, she emits a squeak. However, communication also involves body language, with Kibali using various gestures to convey her needs or respond to her mother’s calls. The mother, Numbi, aged 20, has successfully raised two baby elephants previously, making her an ideal subject for the research team interested in observing the development of the bond between her and Kibali.