November 26, 2008

Scientists use mobile phones to eavesdrop on koala conversations

article-1089163-0096C37F000004B0-66_233x332.jpg According to the Mail Online, scientists are using mobile phones to eavesdrop on koalas in an attempt to translate what they are saying to each other.

quotemarksright.jpgThe researchers placed mobiles in the trees of a koala territory to record the marsupials' distinctive bellows.

They hope studying the animals' mysterious communications will reveal ways to help keep up population numbers, under threat from destruction of traditional habitats.

The mobiles, charged by solar power and car batteries, are programmed to record for two minutes every half hour on St Bees Island off north-east Australia, then transmit the recordings to a computer at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.quotesmarksleft.jpg

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emily | 10:00 AM | SMS and Wildlife | Add this this entry to your del.icio.us bookmarks. Digg This Technorati search results for this Entry
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