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Tigers Terrify Through Subsonic Attacks

Author: Jonty Adderley (Skrufff.com)
Saturday, May 24, 2003
Tigers' roars contain an inaudible element that enables them to paralyse their prey, the Guardian revealed this week. The fact appeared in a preview of an upcoming London show investigating infrasound, featuring performances from composers including Philip Glass and Arvo Part. The term refers to sound at a frequency below 20hertz, the minimum frequency a human ear can detect.

In more killer animal news, the paper printed a series of tips for escaping lion attacks, which suggested standing tall is the best defence.

Do not run, running will cause it to pay you more attention," they advised. "Do not crouch down. Hold your ground, wave your hands and shout. Show it that you are not defenceless."

Roaring back at it could also make sense though a tiger roar contains an infrasound element at 18Hz, the same frequency at which the human eye resonates (meaning an extended roar could burst your eyeball).

Contemporary Infrasonic takes place at the Purcell Rooms, South Bank, London on May 31.
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