---
title: "Monkeys in Zoo Prefer Traffic Noise to Nature Sounds"
description: "Given the choice, monkeys in a Finnish zoo preferred to listen to the sounds of traffic over nature noises or soothing zen sounds."
date: "2020-11-06"
modified: "2020-11-06"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/monkeys-zoo-prefer-traffic-noise-nature-sounds"
categories:
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "animals"
  - "monkey"
  - "Psychology"
  - "the digest"
---

# Monkeys in Zoo Prefer Traffic Noise to Nature Sounds

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/monkeys-zoos-prefer-traffic-noise-nature-sounds.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Pixabay\</em\>*

## City Slickers

A team of scientists started out with a noble goal: making [life more comfortable](<https://futurism.com/fda-lab-monkeys-animal-testing-research>) for monkeys living in a Finnish zoo by letting them control the music for the first time.

But they walked away with a shocking revelation, *[Agence France-Press ](<https://phys.org/news/2020-11-zoo-monkeys-traffic-noise-natural.html>)*[reports](<https://phys.org/news/2020-11-zoo-monkeys-traffic-noise-natural.html>). Given the choice, the white-faced saki monkeys preferred the sounds of automotive traffic over nature noises and other soundscapes that are soothing, at least from a human perspective.

## Pass the Aux

In the experiment, scientists at Finland's Aalto University let the monkeys pick what they wanted to listen to from four playlists: traffic noises, nature and falling rain, zen noises, and dance music. Traffic won out, and the animals calmly slept and groomed themselves while traffic noises played .

"We thought they would enjoy more calming sounds, such as zen music, but actually they triggered the traffic sounds more," Aalto scientist Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas told *AFP*.

## Comfortably Screeching

Zoo research coordinator Kirsi Pynnonen says that the screeching tires might be popular among the monkeys because they actually sound most familiar to them.

"In the wild, these monkeys use high-pitched hissing, squeaking and croaking to stay in contact," she told *AFP*.

This unexpected finding, the researchers say, could help guide future monkey accommodations like letting them choose visuals for TV screens or light settings.

**READ MORE:** [Zoo monkeys prefer traffic noise to natural sounds: study](<https://phys.org/news/2020-11-zoo-monkeys-traffic-noise-natural.html>) \[*Agence France-Presse*\]

**More on monkeys:** *[Sorry, PETA: Court Says Monkeys Can’t Own A Copyright](<https://futurism.com/peta-court-monkey-selfie-copyright>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)