Call of the Wild!
Join us this fall in learning all about the WiLd sounds many of our animals make to communicate with each other. Click on each animal's sound button to hear their communication sounds!
White Rhinoceros
Did you know that White Rhinos are quite the chatterboxes? They communicate using an array of fascinating sounds, from deep gurgling bellows and grunting roars to growls, squeaks, and even strange trumpeting calls! However, the most captivating sound of all comes from our baby White Rhino, Truda. She makes an adorable high-pitched squeaking noise when she wants attention!
Cheetah
Cheetahs are not just the fastest land animals but also have a variety of vocal calls! These fascinating big cats produce a variety of sounds, each with its own meaning. They growl and purr to show contentment, and mothers chirp to communicate with their cubs. Their "explosive yelp" is so powerful that it can be heard up to 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) away! In more intense moments, cheetahs express themselves with moans, growls, hisses, and spitting sounds, especially in combative situations.
Giraffe
Did you know that giraffes have a hidden language? While they may seem quiet to us, these gentle giants communicate using sounds at frequencies so high that they’re inaudible to the human ear! But that's not all—giraffes also produce a variety of audible sounds, including snorts, coughs, hisses, bursts, moans, groans, grunts, whistles, and even bellowing.
Zebra
Zebras have a diverse vocal range, sounding like a variety of different animals! These majestic animals communicate with each other using an array of sounds, including nickers, whinnies, neighs, snorts, barks, squeals, and even wails! They also use body postures and facial expressions to convey messages.
Ostrich
Ostriches also have a fascinating vocal range! They produce an array of sounds, including whistles, hoots, and hisses. One of the most intriguing sounds these large birds make is called "booming," used by male ostriches as a warning call or during displays. To create this booming sound, the male inflates his neck up to three times its normal size!
Gibbon
Did you know that gibbon families have their own morning concert? These primates "sing" a territorial song to announce the borders of their area to neighboring gibbon groups. This enchanting call is also a vital mechanism for social bonding within the family. In zoos with multiple gibbon groups, you can often hear them counter-calling, creating a symphony of gibbon voices.
Budgies
Budgies have a unique way of telling others to back off! Among their diverse vocalizations is a loud hiss-like noise, sounding like "tssssk!" They use this sound when their personal space is invaded and they're feeling defensive. You'll most often hear it when they're nesting or if their cage gets a bit too crowded.
Emu
Emus communicate with a range of deep, non-vocal sounds. These fascinating birds produce low-pitched grunts and thumping or booming notes that can be heard from up to two kilometers away, similar to the Ostrich. Occasionally, you might even hear them calling at night.
Crowned Crane
The Crowned Crane booming call, is produced by inflating the red gular sac, is unlike the trumpeting sounds of other crane species. In addition to this, crowned cranes make honking sounds that set them apart. Both males and females engage in elaborate dances, and even young birds join in! While dancing plays a key role in courtship, it can happen any time of year.
Black and White
Ruffed Lemur
Both black-and-white and red ruffed lemurs make a wide variety of sounds, including howls, barks, and growls. Even though they live separately, black-and-white ruffed lemurs can understand the calls of their red ruffed cousins! Their most distinctive calls include an intense alarm roar, a plaintive call to mark their territory, and loud, bird-like clucks.
Fallow
During the rut, or mating season, male fallow deer produce a distinctive groaning sound—a mix between a snort, growl, snore, belch, and groan. This unique vocalization is created by rapidly inhaling air, which vibrates their vocal cords. And they don’t hold back! Fallow bucks can make these calls up to 3,000 times per hour, creating a chorus that echoes through the forest. Visit us to hear the fascinating sounds of fallow deer during the rut and learn more about their remarkable mating rituals!
Wildebeest
When you're on safari in Tanzania, one of the first sounds you'll notice is the unmistakable grunts and moans of wildebeests. These low, resonant calls serve more than one purpose—helping wildebeests identify each other in the dark and signaling various emotions or states. Whether it's alerting others to potential danger or expressing fear and distress, their vocalizations are key to their survival.
