Crashing waves and whale song - study reveals our favourite sounds from sparks go wild lions den Watch Video

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✓ Published: 26-Mar-2024

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Brits’ favourite natural sounds include waves crashing against the shore, the gentle trickle of water flowing in a stream – and hauntingly beautiful whale song. <br/><br/>A poll of 2,000 adults found these were closely followed the morning chorus of birds singing, with the trumpeting crescendo of wild elephants rounding off the top five. <br/><br/>However, 44 per cent worry they won’t have the chance to enjoy the sounds of nature because of climate change. <br/><br/>More than a quarter (27 per cent) admit being too busy to listen to the sounds around them while on their travels – with 26 per cent of these blaming noisy traffic. <br/><br/>Despite this, 93 per cent admit they feel relaxed in the sounds of nature – although, fewer than half (49 per cent) often make the effort to experience those nearby. <br/><br/>The research was commissioned by Dolby to mark its launch of ‘Seven Sonic Wonders of the World’ [https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-seven-sonic-wonders/1733901685]. <br/><br/>The immersive album was created with wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson and award-winning composer Nainita Desai, and allows listeners to enjoy rare sounds from around the world. <br/><br/>Chris Watson, who worked on who worked on David Attenborough’s ‘Life’ series and the BBC series ‘Frozen Planet’, said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to travel around the world and hear nature at its very best. <br/><br/>“We often neglect the joys the sounds of the Earth bring us, over the sights it brings us, but they really do go hand in hand. <br/><br/>“It brings me great pleasure to work on this project to reveal some of the most inspiring sounds I’ve heard on my travels. <br/><br/>“I hope the tracks transport listeners to the heart of these natural wonders, to where I originally placed my microphones – Dolby Atmos helps take them there.” <br/><br/>Gen Z and Millennials are 178 per cent more likely than Gen X and older to book a trip to hear a natural sound in person, and 150 per cent more likely to take a long trip to immersive themselves in sound. <br/><br/>They are also keen to relive the moment, as Gen Z are 75 per cent more likely to take a video to capture a sound during a trip. <br/><br/>The survey, which was carried by OnePoll, also found 39 per cent of adults have booked a trip specifically to see a natural landmark, but just 16 per cent have done so to hear a sound in nature. <br/><br/>On a week-long trip, the number of pictures the average traveller snaps to remember the sights is four times higher than the number of videos they capture to remember the sounds. <br/><br/>As a result, while 58 per cent of Brits can recollect a natural landmark that ‘wows’ visually, but 41 per cent can recall a natural landmark which has the same impact with sound. <br/><br/>Those polled reckon Africa has the most unique sounds on Earth (22 per cent), followed by Australasia (19 per cent), and South America (18 per cent). <br/><br/>Daniela Bischof, from Dolby Laboratories, said: “We all dream of seeing the Seven Wonders of the World, but how often do we dream of hearing them? <br/><br/>“We wanted to curate the Seven Sonic Wonders of the World to transport listeners to the home of some of the world’s most awe-inspiring sounds – many of which may not be around for much longer. <br/><br/>“We hope listeners love immersing themselves in the best of what nature has to offer with the Seven Sonic Wonders album, all whilst giving a little back to Mother Earth.” <br/><br/>BRITS’ TOP 10 FAVOURITE NATURAL SOUNDS<br/><br/>1. Sound of waves crashing against the shore<br/>2. The gentle sound of water flowing in a stream<br/>3. The haunting and beautiful songs of whales<br/>4. Elephants in the wild<br/>5. Morning chorus of birdsong<br/>6. Water cascading over Niagara Falls<br/>7. The roar of Lions in the African bush<br/>8. Rainforest sounds / the chatter of monkeys<br/>9. The rustling sound of leaves and branches swaying in the wind<br/>10. The quiet and gentle sound of snow falling