Big cats find classical music relaxing

6 March 2013, 11:00 | Updated: 6 March 2013, 17:22

A Somerset zoo has started playing Classic FM to calm some of its more ferocious inhabitants - the lions and tigers - who enjoy listening to the station when they're relaxing.

Big cats at a Somerset zoo listen to classical music to help them relax, choosing Classic FM as their favourite station. Keepers at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, Bristol, have been experimenting with different musical styles to keep their animals entertained, and the lions and tigers are benefiting from the calming effects of classical music.

While the rhinos prefer the more up-beat tempo of pop stations, the big cats have shown a remarkable preference for Classic FM, and are often seen rolling playfully on the floor as they listen to the world's greatest music.

Big cat keeper Emma Godsell said: “Classic FM seems to have gone down well with Tiana and Khan our tigers, and the lion brothers Zulu and Masai: I often see them chilling out on their beds or dozing on the floor when it’s playing.”

Here at Classic FM, we're thrilled to extend a warm welcome to the latest of our four-legged listeners. Dogs at Battersea Dogs' Home also relax when listening to the station, and were found to bark less when classical music was played.