Scientists studying seals in the wild captured the first footage of the animals flapping their flippers underwater. The scene reportedly serves as something of a revelation to researchers, as these creatures previously only exhibited this behavior when they were held captive and taught to "applaud."
Surprisingly, marine biologist Dr. Ben Berville spent 17 years trying to document the natural flapping of seals until he finally found success in his quest.
What particularly amazed the researchers was how loudly the flippers of the seals clapped against each other.
"The clap was incredibly loud, and at first it was hard for me to believe what I saw," Burville wondered. "How could a seal make such a loud clap underwater when there was no air between its fins?"
The scientists behind the study noted that other aquatic animals are known to make "similar types of percussive sound by slapping water with their body or tail."
As for what clapping might mean, the researchers speculated that the powerful sound is likely some form of communication used by animals.
"Depending on the context, clapping can help drive off competitors and / or attract potential partners," explained lead scientist Dr. David Hawking, likening the gorilla's behavior to chest striking.
The discovery that seals flap in the wild adds a new dimension to concerns about how human noise pollution affects aquatic creatures, as such a manifestation has never been seen until now.
