Question

can anyone tell me about the problems faced by ailings and stray animals due to the loud noises?

Answer 1

• Man-made noise pollution has made the Earth an uncomfortable place to stay for animals as well. Hearing loss and rapid increase in heart rate are some of the ill-effects of noise pollution on animals. High intensity sound induces fear, forcing them to abandon their habitat. Other effects of noise on animals is given below:

• Anxious behavior in animals is commonly observed in the form of trembling when they are exposed to high decibel levels. Intolerable noise levels can decrease a cow's capacity of milk production. These animals require a calm and relaxed environment to provide a better milk yield.

• Research has proven that aircraft induced noise is responsible for a significant decrease in reproduction activity in a wide range of animals. The ill-effects of noise can also be seen on chicken in the form of a sharp drop in egg production. Stunted growth in chickens due to intense noise has also been observed.

• Underwater animals such as whales and dolphins too experience discomfort due to noise pollution caused by submarines, shipping companies, and sonars.

• Recent studies on impact of low and high intensity sound on marine life showed that aquatic animals like cuttlefish and octopus suffer serious damage from noise pollution. The sound produced from oil-drilling and other activities like commercial shipping can damage auditory processing functions of these animals. In fact, certain incidences have shown that high frequency sound could actually kill cephalopods (species of shellfish). This was evident when offshore vessels utilized air guns that generate high intensity sound for commercial purposes. Cephalopods suffered a life-threatening impact. The high decibel noise led to the development of lesions in their auditory processing systems, which eventually caused their death.

• Birds in urban areas, that use their sharp hearing abilities to hunt prey, are at loss due to intervention of man-made noise. High noise levels can also negatively affect the breeding and feeding patterns of some animals. This is one of the reasons why certain species have become extinct.

• Birds that make sound at lower frequencies for communication bear maximum impact of the noise pollution. The high noise levels camouflage their sound, making male birds difficult to draw attention of female birds. Some male birds tend to sing at a higher pitch during noise pollution. However, this change in vocalization is far from melodious and seldom successfully attracts a receptive mate.

• Sea animals produce varying sound levels among each other. However, the noise of commercial ships does not allow these animals to communicate properly, which can wreak havoc on their reproductive function. Sonar navy tests can hurt the whale's ear and reduce its ability to breed and feed.

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