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Friendlier Lions
ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Lions can be aggressive when they encounter unfamiliar lions. But with their habitat shrinking, lions are being forced to share the same space. Scientists from the University of Minnesota investigated whether a chemical called oxytocin could help. This hormone produced by the body aids in social bonding.
The team gave 23 lions at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa a whiff of oxytocin spray. Afterward, scientists observed that these cats were friendlier and less territorial with their neighbors. The cats also didn’t roar when scientists played the sounds of unfamiliar lions. Jessica Burkhart, who led the study, believes oxytocin could be used to help lions live a “less stressful, more companionable life.”