Sharks are fans of jazz and swing music, scientists discover
Scientists found Port Jackson sharks would swim towards spots where they played jazz more than any other genre of music
SHARKS are not merciless killing machines — but sensitive souls with a passion for jazz, say experts.
A study that trained sharks to associate music with food rewards learned they were not the aggressive flesh-crunching monsters of the Jaws movies.
Instead, scientists discovered intelligent, sensitive creatures who responded well to training and showed a preference for the sophisticated jazz sounds associated with stars such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis.
Scientists from Sydney’s Macquarie University found the Port Jackson sharks in their study swam to a feeding station whenever they were played jazz. They were less likely to respond to other types of music.
Study leader Catarina Vila-Pouca said: “Sharks are generally underestimated when it comes to learning.
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“Most people see them as mindless, instinctive animals. However, they have really big brains and are obviously much smarter than we give them credit for.
“Gaining a better understanding of this will help a positive public opinion of sharks and may shift the political will towards their conservation.”