Scientists in Australia have trained sea lions and seals to respond to a hearing test for research into how the marine mammals are affected by human-made noise.⁣ ⁣ Keepers at Sydney's Taronga Zoo trained two sea lions and two fur seals to listen to sounds and press a paddle when they heard a tone.⁣ ⁣ "These hearing tests give us that baseline and allow us to start asking how noises from ships, boats, aircraft and coastal construction might affect seals and sea lions," Curtin University professor and lead researcher Christine Erbe has said.⁣ ⁣ Noise pollution is known to have a major negative impact on wildlife.⁣ ⁣ A study released in February found it was affecting bird behavior across the globe, disrupting everything from courtship songs to their ability to find food and avoid predators.⁣ ⁣ #sealions #seals #animals #australia