Familiar Voices: How Wild Cats in Zoos Respond to Human Voices

Wild cats in zoos recognize the voices of familiar individuals, according to an experiment conducted by American zoologists. The experiment involved playing recordings of voices of both familiar and unfamiliar people to the wild cats. The results show that the animals respond quicker and more intensely to familiar voices. The study was conducted in two stages, initially involving cheetahs, servals, a tiger, a cougar, and a lynx. Later, lions, fishing cats, a clouded leopard, a sand cat, and snow leopards were included in the experiment. The findings indicate the significance of social stimuli for wild cats, despite the fact that most species typically live solitary lives in their natural habitat.