Seals learn to mimic human tones, Scottish scientists say -- and there's adorable video to prove it

Scientists say they’ve taught grey seals to mimic human tones.

ByABC NEWS
June 21, 2019, 6:05 PM

Scientists from the University of St Andrews in Scotland say they’ve taught grey seals to mimic human tones.

The two scientists raised three seals from birth, training them to copy human vowel combinations.

One seal, named Zola, could reproduce up to 10 notes from “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”

PHOTO: A grey seal lays on the beach in this stock photo.
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

“This study gives us a better understanding of the evolution of vocal learning, a skill that is crucial for human language development,” a spokesperson for the university says.

The study says seals “could be a new model system to study speech disorders,” according to a release from the university.

Related Topics