Forget Dr Doolittle, study finds animals might not only want to use tech, but they also want to talk to us with it — and it could be 'incredibly powerful for the future of conservation'

• Lemurs engage more with tech when humans share control of interactive systems
• Zoo visitors stayed longer when animals visibly responded to inputs
• Shared control increased both animal interaction frequency and visitor attention

A research team from the University of Glasgow has tested whether animals can engage with technology in ways that resemble shared experiences with humans.

Their system, known as CreatureConnect, allowed zoo visitors and red-ruffed lemurs to influence sounds, visuals, and scents through linked interfaces placed on either side of an enclosure.

The premise was not direct communication, but a mediated interaction where both species could affect the same environment.

Red-ruffed lemurs prefer sharing control over acting alone

Over a 20-day trial at Blair Drummond Safari Park, more than 16,000 visitors passed through the exhibit, with 1,719 individuals actively using the system.

Lemurs interacted with the device 541 times, suggesting repeated engagement rather than incidental contact.

The system varied between automatic, human-only, lemur-only, and shared control modes, providing a structured comparison of behavior across different interaction types.

Findings indicate the lemurs were least engaged when given sole control of the system - instead, they interacted more frequently when humans were also involved, suggesting a preference for shared control rather than isolated use.

“We were surprised to find that the lemurs do not necessarily want to control the device alone. Instead, they seem to want to share,” said Jiaqi Wang, a PhD student at the University of Glasgow’s School of Computing Science.

This contradicts the initial expectations about animal independence in such settings. The animals also displayed consistent preferences in the types of stimuli they activated.

High-intensity scents, bright visual patterns, and moderate sound levels triggered stronger responses, indicating that engagement was not random but tied to specific sensory conditions.

Human behavior shifted noticeably when CreatureConnect was active, and this was accompanied by increased visitor numbers and longer stays at the enclosure.

“Using technology to foster high levels of engagement and empathy could help zoo visitors leave not just with happy memories but also with a keener interest in wildlife conservation,” Wang added.

Visitors also reported greater enjoyment, empathy, and a stronger connection when they perceived the animals responding to their inputs.

“It’s been fascinating to see how engaged both visitors and lemurs were when collaborating with each other,” said Lorna Graham, Research Coordinator at Blair Drummond Safari Park.

“When people can see the lemurs responding and making their own choices, something really seems to click. That shared moment creates a genuine connection — and when you feel connected to an animal, you’re far more likely to care about its future.”

The researchers believe that this form of mediated interaction could address a longstanding tension between animal welfare and visitor expectations.

If similar responses can be observed in less familiar species, the approach could influence how public interest in conservation develops.

“Research like this helps us better understand what our animals value, while also building deeper empathy between people and wildlife. That’s incredibly powerful for the future of conservation,” Graham added.

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