Al Long Marine Laboratory of Santa Cruzin California, lives a really unusual star: it’s called Ronanis 16 years old, weighs 77 kilos and is a sea lion of California. His specialty? Keep the musical rhythm better than human beings. According to a study published on Scientific ReportsRonan is able to move his head in time with one surprising precisioneven higher than that of many university students.
In 2013 he surprised everyone dancing on pop songs like Boogie Wonderland of the Earth, Wind & Fire. Since then, scientists have wondered if it was just a lucky case. Today, with more rigorous tests, Ronan has confirmed his talent.
During the experiment, he had to follow a metronome At three different speeds (112, 120 and 128 beats per minute). In each, he synchronized his movements so regular and precisewithout losing blows. In some cases it has been more consistent and reliable 80% of human participants.
From a scientific point of view, the discovery is interesting: Ronan is the first non -voice mammith to demonstrate an ability to rhythmic synchronization. So far it was thought that only those who know imitate sounds (like humans and some birds) could keep time. Ronan puts this idea in crisis. What is certain is that the fact that he needed years of training He suggests that his ability is not spontaneous, but the result of a long conditioning process.
This ability has deep implications. It could suggest that the perception of rhythm is not only linked to music or language, but to more functions ancient and evolutionaryhow to move in the water following the waves or predict the movements of the prey.
As far as this is lawful all this?
Ronan was not born in a university study. It was found in 2009 after repeated episodes of malnutrition And Discouragement along a highway. Considered, it ended in a laboratory where, between one experiment and another, he learned to “dance”. His story is moving, but he poses ethical questions. It is legitimate to use a wild animal, saved by a critical condition, to carry out experiments that, however volunteers, take place in artificial conditions?
Scientists assure Ronan participates spontaneously. If he does not want to “work”, he dives into the water and the end of the session. But it is still a controlled environmentfar from the freedom that a sea lion should know in his habitat. In nature, Ronan would need to follow very different rhythms: the currents, hunting, escape. In the laboratory, a metronome and “dance” in front of scientists. This is really “science”, or a more sophisticated way of doing entertainment masked by research?
In an era in which it is increasingly reflected on animal welfare and on Right to freedom of wild speciesexperiments like these should be observed with a critical eye. It is not enough to say that the animal “is not forced”: it is necessary to wonder if it is right deprive him of his nature For our desire to amaze us and better understand ourselves.
