And now Formosa News reporter Stephany Yang takes us to Taipei Zoo to explore the languages of the animal kingdom.
Animals can’t talk, but they do communicate using sounds, scents, posture, and other non-verbal languages. For the people who work at Taipei Zoo, it’s important to carefully observe the animals to learn what it is they’re trying to say. For example, when koalas are angry, they flap their ears.
Eric Tsao
Taipei Zoo spokesman
When they get excited, the vibration of the ear, the movement will be different. For example, before they mating, and they feel very excited, you will see the little vibration of the ear. For the zoo keepers and our vet staff, it''s very important to learn all the wildlife because they cannot speak human language. We observe their body language and learn how they communicate through their vocal sounds.
As for elephants, when they are angry, they will slam their trunks to the ground. Another sign of anger is making low-frequency sounds.
Eric Tsao
Taipei Zoo spokesman
For the elephant, it''s very interesting. They will use their major tools, which are their trunks to hit the ground. You can hear very low vibration voices. If you look at their big ear, sometimes they will push it to their front side to make it look bigger. So that’s also a very interesting image that when we look at the elephant, you know they are maybe angry, they are not comfortable about the environment.
Clouded leopards, when in a bad mood, will swing their tails up and down. When they’re feeling bothered by their environment, they will have a reduced appetite. As for chimpanzees, when they feel ignored or wronged by others, they will clap their hands, slap their own bodies, or even cry.
Eric Tsao
Taipei Zoo spokesman
For the visitors, if you are lucky enough, you may have the opportunity to eyewitness how the animals use their vocal sounds to communicate or they will have all kinds of body languages. But it''s also important to keep silent and distance from the animal so that the animal they can feel more safe so they can express their feelings freely.
Zookeepers spend a great deal of time observing the sounds, behaviors and body movements of different species to understand their current emotions and needs. Animals are very susceptible to environmental influences, which can lead to drastic emotional changes. The Taipei Zoo reminds visitors to speak softly and give the animals space when visiting the zoo.