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Scottish zoo prototypes giraffe enrichment system
The prototypes explored whether giraffes would play humming noises rather than humming themselves.
It is the world’s first interactive enrichment system for giraffes.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have collaborated with a Scottish zoo to develop a prototype enrichment system for giraffes.

The device, which is a world first, allowed five giraffes at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park to trigger sounds on demand using interactive methods.

The study was devised to provide the giraffes with engaging activities to maintain their mental and physical health, while also exploring the ways that giraffes entertain themselves when they aren’t sleeping.

Giraffes do not sleep for hours each night, but instead take frequent naps whenever they need, usually for less than 30 minutes at a time. When they are awake at night, they instead seem to hum to themselves, creating a sustained and low-frequency rumble.

The prototype devices were designed to discover whether the giraffes would choose to activate humming sounds from the enrichment systems on demand, rather than humming to themselves. They also examined whether these sounds stimulated the giraffes’ behaviour, and were therefore enriching.

Two different systems were built, which could be interacted with in different ways.

One device was activated by touch, playing sounds only when the giraffes nudged or headbutted a toy hanging in their enclosure. The other device played audio whenever an animal stood close to its proximity sensor.

The giraffes were allowed some time to get used to the devices being in their enclosure before the scientists introduced the sound effects: either white noise or a recording of giraffes humming.

From two months of observation, the scientists saw that the giraffes used the proximity-activated device more frequently, but spent longer using the touch-activated device per use. They suggest that this could mean that, while proximity is effective for getting the attention of giraffes, touch sustains their engagement better.

The researchers also noted that the animals had no preference for either sound effect. After the audio elements was introduced, interactions with the devices began to decline.

The study was led by Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, of the University of Glasgow’s School of Computing.

She said: “As it turned out, it seems the sound of other giraffes humming isn’t as appealing as we might have expected, which gives us an important data point to move forward with.

“It could also help unravel the mystery of why giraffes in captivity make this humming sound, which is similar to the vocalisations they make to each other but could have another purpose which they don’t necessarily enjoy hearing played back to them.”

The full study, ‘Hum-ble Beginnings: Exploring Input Modality of Touch and Space for Audio’, is due to be presented at the ACM Interactive Surfaces and Spaces conference on 8 November.

Image © University of Glasgow

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Prof Joanne Webster elected as Fellow of the Royal Society

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 Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).

An infectious disease expert, Prof Webster is known for promoting a One Health approach to disease control.

She completed her doctoral research in zoonotic disease and parasite-host interactions, and has since earned widespread recognition for contributions to parasitology and global health.

Prof Webster said: "I am truly honoured, and somewhat stunned, to be recognised alongside such an exceptional group of scientists." 

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Germany FMD import restrictions eased

The UK government has lifted the import restrictions placed on FMD-susceptible commodities from Germany.

The decision comes after the country was recognised as foot-and-mouth disease free without vaccination on 14 May.

Imports of FMD-susceptible animals and their by-products from Germany were originally banned, after the country reported a case of FMD near Brandenburg in January. In March, the UK government permitted imports from outside of the outbreak zone.

Germany will now be able to import FMD-susceptible animals and their by-products into the UK, providing they meet other import conditions.

The decision follows rigorous technical assessment of measures in Germany. Defra says it will not hesitate respond to FMD outbreaks.