Mar 16, 2022
How do you tell how a pig’s feeling?
Just listen to the sounds it makes, scientists say. They're using 
artificial intelligence (AI) to figure out what pigs feel.
The researchers say a code analyzed more than 7,400 sounds. The sounds came from 411 pigs. The team placed the animals in positive and negative situations. Positives included being with their mothers and family and running. Negative ones included fights and being handled roughly.
The pigs in positive situations made shorter sounds. They had only minor changes in how loud. Negative situations led to longer squeals. The sounds were also at higher frequencies.
Not much is known about animal emotions. Most animal welfare tracking focuses on their physical health. That's done, for example, through cameras.
But experts know that the mental health of livestock is important. It's part of their health. The new study suggests that systems could be created to help farmers keep track of their animals’ mental health.
One of the study's co-authors says the study “is an important step towards improved animal welfare ...”
Photo from kallerna courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
NASA, French Space Laser Measures Massive Migration of Ocean Animals
This article discusses the new observations of migrating creatures in the world's oceans made possible by the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite.
Green Spaces Lesson: Health Benefits
This lesson asks students to consider how their communities would look and feel with and without green spaces.
Winter BINGO in CT
This bingo sheet supplies fun facts about Connecticut's wildlife in the winter and encourages students to go outside in their neighborhood to identify local birds, mammals, plants, and animal tracks.
News brought to you by
