Watch How Animals Respond to the Scariest Sound on the Savanna                                         

Although the wilds of Africa host a series of predators, some surprising new research indicates that human beings are the most feared of them all. Capturing the response of many different animals to recorded sounds, scientists have discovered that human voices incite more fear and flight than do the roar of the mighty lion. Working with local colleagues from South Africa and other collaborators, the researchers set up equipment that has tested the fear responses of various animals. The motion-triggered automated behavioral response systems record video of passing mammals as they respond to a mix of sounds on a spectrum from potentially scary to harmless.

THE NEW YORK TIMES