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Early human speech linked to orangutans
orangutan
"It has been presumed that sounds made by great apes are driven by arousal over which they have no control, but our research proves that orangutans have the potential capacity to control the action of their voices" (stock photo)
Research shows orangutans' ability to learn sounds and control aspects of voice

International research has revealed major links between the evolution of human speech and voice control in orangutans.

Rocky, an 11-year-old orangutan, was studied at Indianapolis Zoo, between April and May 2012, during which time researchers went to great lengths not to disrupt his regular routine.

The team encouraged Rocky (who was eight years old at the time) to play an imitation game, through which he would copy the pitch and tone of vowel-like calls and sounds made by researchers. Rocky’s ability to mimic the random sounds, with the varied tones and pitches, reveal a level of voice control unknown in orangutans, until now.

Rocky’s sounds were compared with a database of over 12,000 sounds made by both captive and wild orangutans. Based on this comparison researchers were able to conclude that Rocky’s sounds were different to any of those heard on the database, therefore showing that he was able to control his voice in a conversational context and learn new sounds.
 
Dr Adriano Lameira, lead author of the study, stated: "Instead of learning new sounds, it has been presumed that sounds made by great apes are driven by arousal over which they have no control, but our research proves that orangutans have the potential capacity to control the action of their voices.

"This indicates that the voice control shown by humans could derive from an evolutionary ancestor with similar voice control capacities as those found in orangutans and in all great apes more generally."
 
Professor Serge Wich, of the University of Amsterdam, added: "Our findings indicate that the excellent vocal control that humans exhibit likely derives from an evolutionary ancestor with similar capacities in terms of voice control as those found in orangutans, and possibly in all great apes more generally.

"Based on these findings, science can now start to reconstruct the vocal capacities of an early hominid, estimated to have lived before the split between the orangutan and the human lineages, and examine the following steps in the evolution of the vocal system towards full-blown speech."

 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.