5 animals that can imitate human sound
The world of animals is fascinating to explore. It has so many facets to amaze us with. Take for example the fact that some animals have mastered the art of speaking. No, we're not talking about parrots here. We are focussing on creatures known to imitate human sounds and communicate through sign language. These animals are referred to as 'vocal learners’ who can replicate sounds, thanks to their anatomy and forebrain. Let us see who they are and how they acquired their speaking abilities!
Hoover, the Seal
A young seal was discovered in 1971 by locals George and Alice Swallow near the Maine coast. They took the little seal home and kept him in their bathtub. He started eating so quickly that they began to compare him with a vacuum cleaner and nicknamed him 'Hoover.' After only a few months, he was shifted to the New England Aquarium in Boston. George mentioned that Hoover could talk when he first brought the seal into the aquarium. Of course, no one at the time took him seriously!
However, a few years later, scientists at the aquarium discovered that Hoover's growling sounds appeared to be creating words and phrases. How did he sound? He had a strong Boston accent and could only speak his name and a few other words. He quickly gained international attention and appeared in various renowned global publications. He frequently exclaimed, 'Get outta here!' or asked, 'How are ya?'
Koko, the Gorilla
Koko was born in 1971 at San Francisco Zoo, U.S.A. The gorilla was just a few years old when she first made an action, spreading a paw diagonally across her chest as if drawing royal clothing!
The primate's fantastic gift for speaking is what has made her famous. Francine Patterson, head carer for Koko, started instructing Koko at the age of 1 year. In 43 years, the gorilla mastered more than 1,000 words of modified American Sign Language, giving it a vocabulary like that of a 3-year-old human kid. Bonus fact: Koko's first word to describe herself was Queen. Animals certainly never fail to amuse us!
Rocky, the Ape
In 2016, a team of researchers led by Dr. Adriano Lameira of Durham University demonstrated that apes could manipulate their vocal range and communicate similarly to humans. The study focussed on Rocky, an 8-year-old ape from the Indianapolis Zoo, U.S.A, who imitated his keepers. When did he do this? Of course, in return for food.
Koshik, the Elephant
Elephants share the value of communication in establishing long-lasting social relationships like humans. Today, we will tell you about an elephant named Koshik. He is a male Asian elephant kept in captivity in South Korea. In 2006, at just 16 years of age, he mastered imitating each of his keepers ranging from 'hello' to 'sit down' and 'no.' What's more impressive is that while elephants don't have vocal cords as humans do, Koshik would put his trunk in his mouth to build a vocal line that allowed him to convey pitches identical to human speech!
Wikie, the Orca Whale
We may have the first proof that killer whales are picking up noises through vocal mimicry, as a 14-year-old whale, Wikie, uttered 'hello' to a human in 2018. Orcas, often known as killer whales, have been believed to be able to replicate human speech, according to researchers at a marine park in France. One of the experts of the study was Josep Call, a professor at the University of St. Andrews, UK, who specialises in the evolutionary origins of the mind.