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Baby bats babble like human infants - study
Researchers at Berlin’s Museum of Natural History studied the babbling behaviour of 20 greater sac-winged bat pups.
Pup babbling is rhythmic and involves the repetition of key syllables.

A new study by researchers in Germany has revealed that baby bats babble much like infant humans.

The study, published in the journal Science, found that bat pup babbling is rhythmic and involves the repetition of key syllables, similar to da-da-da in human babies.

"Pup babbling is a very conspicuous vocal behaviour, it is audible at a considerable distance from the roost, and babbling bouts have a duration of up to 43 minutes,” said study author Martina Nagy. “While babbling, pups learn the song of the adult males."

In the study, researchers at Berlin’s Museum of Natural History studied the babbling behaviour of 20 greater sac-winged bat pups in their natural habitat. They took daily acoustic recordings of the bats in their roosts and filmed the pups from birth until weaning.

The team then analysed the recordings to investigate the characteristics of pup babbling, and found that pup babbling is characterized by the same eight features as human infant babbling. “For example, pup babbling is characterized by reduplication of syllables, similar to the characteristic syllable repetition – /dadada/ – in human infant babbling," explained co-author Lara Burchardt.

Reseacrhers also found that pup babbling is rhythmic and occurs in both male and female pups – a discovery that stands in stark contrast to songbirds, where only young males babble.

Co-author Mirjam Knörnschild said: "It is fascinating to see these compelling parallels between the vocal practice behaviour of two vocal learning mammals.

“Our study is contributing to the interdisciplinary field of biolinguistics, which focusses on the biological foundations of human language to study its evolution. Work on a vocal learning, babbling bat species may ultimately give us another piece of the puzzle to better understand the evolutionary origin of human language.”

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.