Recent studies reveal that seal pups produce more human-like sounds than previously believed, often taking turns “communicating” by adjusting their calls to match their neighboring pups. This fascinating behavior sheds light on the evolution of complex communication, including human language.

Harbor seals, also known simply as seals, are among the few animal species capable of learning and altering their vocalizations.

“They can learn to create new sounds or modify existing ones,” explains Dr. Cohen de Reus from Radboud University and Vrije Universiteit Bruxelles. His research is part of his Ph.D. dissertation, as noted by BBC Science Focus.

Every talkative harbor seal has its own distinct calls, which mothers utilize to locate their pups on busy beaches. This study examines how seals modify their calls based on social contexts.

Dr. de Reus found that the calls of pups sitting together became increasingly similar over time. “This phenomenon resembles regional accents in humans,” he stated. “Despite their visual similarities, each pup can be recognized individually, just as in humans.”

Additionally, akin to polite human conversation, the pups engage in turn-taking without overlapping in communication.

To conduct his research, Dr. de Reus analyzed thousands of hours of audio from numerous harbor seal pups at the Peterburen Seal Center in the Netherlands.

“After spending extensive time with the pups, I could identify at least half of their calls,” he shared.

This study aims to uncover the subtleties of communication shared across species and those unique to humans, potentially revealing the intricate history of human language development.

“Language is often regarded as a unique trait that sets us apart from other species, yet our findings indicate the existence of advanced communication systems in various animals,” Dr. de Reus continued. “Consider this research a foundational step for future comparisons.”

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