Giraffes were deemed mute for many years, however they actually produce a variety of vocalizations, although interpretations of their contextual usage are still based on descriptive studies. My current research project, GIRAFFE OUT LOUD, aims to better understand the role of vocal signals in giraffes in both zoos and the wild.
As co-leader of the Mammal Communication Lab, I have been privileged to study elephant communication and behavior both in zoos and the wild, and to add together with colleagues and collaborators significant knowledge about how elephants utilize vocalizations for their short- and long-distance communication system.