Zoo soundscapes could be a new frontier in bioacoustics studies

Increased collaboration between zoos and sound researchers could open new frontiers in bioacoustics, according to a new paper.

"Hullabaloo at the zoo: aligning acoustic research with the goals of the conservation zoo", was published in Bioacoustics, the International Journal of Animal Sound and its Recording, this month.

The article, written by Rebecca Lewis, Conservation Scientist: Population Biology, and Leah Williams, Lead Conservation Scientist: Population Biology at Chester Zoo, provides an overview of bioacoustics research carried out within zoos.

The study looks at more than 30 years of bioacoustics work covering aspects of biophony, geophony and anthrophony, animal communication, human health and well-being, technical aspects of sound detection and measurement, and evaluation of zoo soundscapes, and utilising multiple methodologies to evaluate zoo soundscapes.

Leah said: "When it comes to research into zoo environments, a lot of studies focus on the physical environment, in terms of both animals and visitors, perhaps because other dimensions of the environment are less visible and obvious.

"In this paper, we try to encourage both the zoo community and practitioners in bioacoustics research to consider more collaborative opportunities. In fact, collaboration could go further than bioacoustics- we would invite researchers in any acoustic discipline to consider zoos as an arena of study.

"Zoo soundscapes have real implications for visitor and animal welfare and on conservation practices, and they offer a rich and unique environment for inquiry."

Key findings:
-Visitor noise is the most researched aspect of sounds in zoos
-Zoo bioacoustics impact studies most often focus on non-human primates, with relatively few visitor sound studies focusing on birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish
-Consistent noise, of the kind generator noise, HVAC systems and aquarium filtration systems, is less studied than acute noise, like the sound generated by after-hours events or short-term construction projects
-More research is needed into how environmental noise affects the way animals communicate and behave

Rebecca Lewis said: "What we want to encourage is collaboration with bioacousticians, to facilitate work that's of scientific interest to the bioacoustics community and has conservation value and is helpful to the zoo community. There's a lot of work out there on wild sound, as well as bioacoustics studies that focus on domesticated animals and carried out in lab settings. Zoos offer another avenue for impactful research."

Chester Zoo itself has hosted studies focusing on multiple bird species, giraffes and various zoo environments.

Leah added: "The issue many zoos face is that they don't have the capacity to carry out their own bioacoustics surveys. It's a complex field and requires technical expertise and access to specialised equipment. We're lucky at Chester Zoo to have team members who have that expertise, but other organisations don't have that capacity. We want to encourage zoos to reach out to researchers and researchers to reach out to zoos.

"These studies have the potential to shape zoo habitat design, influence conservation practice or unearth other data with practical applications."

Chester Zoo is the site of a growing number of bioacoustics studies, including "Evaluating the influencers of acoustic indices in a zoo soundscape", which came out in Bioacoustics in June, and several articles pending publication, including one on an infrasonic cassowary call.

Bali myna, fossa, Java sparrows and golden mantella frogs have all been the focus of previous bioacoustics studies.

Rebecca said: "We're really interested in zoo bioacoustics as an institution. It's one of our core research areas, and I think Chester Zoo is increasingly recognised as a front runner in the field."
To find out more about research at Chester Zoo, visit

www.chesterzoo.org/conservation-science-education

The paper can be read here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09524622.2025.2522470

International Centre for Zoo Science
Chester Zoo
Chester CH2 1LE
United Kingdom

Press contact: Rhian Waller

About Chester Zoo
www.chesterzoo.org

Chester Zoo is a world-leading conservation and education charity that's committed to preventing extinction and dedicated to raising awareness of key conservation and environmental challenges.
The zoo's 128-acre site in Chester, which is home to more 500 threatened species, is where this species-saving work is made possible.
As a not-for-profit, the zoo ploughs everything into its conservation mission, both here in the UK and around the world.
It works with more than 3,000 species globally, including 140 international animal conservation breeding programmes, which are ensuring the survival of species on the very brink of extinction. It's also home to five national plant collections, comprising of more than 1,000 species.
Experts from the zoo are recognised by governments and NGOs across the world as leaders within the global conservation community. Currently, the zoo is saving species on behalf of the Bermudan, Spanish and Portuguese governments, among others.
The zoo works with over 100 partners in more than 20 countries to recover threatened wildlife and restore habitats, including orangutans in Bornean rainforests, elephants and tigers in Indian grasslands, lemurs and frogs in Malagasy forests, rare fish in Mexican lakes and a host of species here in the UK.
The zoo influences policy both in the UK and internationally, engaging with governments worldwide to take action to halt the biodiversity crisis.
Its millions of annual visitors and huge online communities are part of the educational, scientific and conservation jigsaw, empowering them to be part of solutions for wildlife, creating a future where nature can survive and thrive.
Chester Zoo lives and breathes conservation - from its animal and plant care, to its scientific breakthroughs, to its policy work and its vital role in inspiring and educating people about the natural world and the impact humans have on it - creating and nurturing the conservationist in us all.

This release was published on openPR.