Elephants, rhinos and giraffes are all now more afraid of people than they are of other apex predators, according to a scientific paper that supports the idea that humans are the world's "super predator".
Wild animals are twice as likely to run away, and abandon waterholes 40% faster, when they hear the sound of people talking, according to researchers working in South Africa's Greater Kruger national park, home to one of the largest remaining lion populations.
Running away or abandoning the waterhole was a response seen in 95% of species including giraffes, leopards, hyenas, zebras, kudus, warthogs and impalas. "Fear of humans significantly exceeded that of lions throughout the savanna mammal community," says the paper, published in Current Biology.
The voices of men and women were played speaking calmly in local languages. The lead researcher, Prof Liana Zanette, of the University of Western Ontario in Canada, said she was surprised by the magnitude of the response from wildlife, as well as the number of species affected.
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