Seals' Global View Revealed at Edmonton Zoo

0:00It's March 31st. This is Canada News Today, your AI-powered local news. Concordia University of Edmonton teamed up with the Edmonton Valley Zoo to figure out how seals perceive the world around them. Assistant Professor Jenna Congden is leading the charge, testing something called local global bias. Basically, do seals focus on tiny details or the big picture in what they see? They're using a large touch screen setup where seals tap the right image after getting their noses dried off. Seals that are game for it earn treats like herring or capelin as positive reinforcement, turning sessions into quick, engaging games. Zookeepers notice the seals love it, getting jealous if one misses out, which shows they're hooked. This work not only boosts staff knowledge of their animals, but also gives the seals fundamental exercise. He results point to the zoo's northern fur seals, leaning toward a global view, just like us humans, while they're also checking out the harbor. Seals.

1:00Congden did similar tests before, with emuse and eyes, North American river otters next. All this peels back layers on how pinnipeds hunt and navigate underwater, bridging zoo life with wild instincts and ways to keep evolving.