3D-printed robotic rattlesnake triggers an avoidance response in zoo animals, especially species which share their distribution with rattlers in nature

The robotic rattlesnake and experimental set-up. (A) Diagram of the 3D-printed robot rattlesnake. (B-D) Behavioral responses of a collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) during each of the three trial types. In all trials, a food reward was placed in the enclosure to encourage approach. (B) The test individual was released in the enclosure after the food reward was placed in the enclosure. (C) The robot rattlesnake was placed in the vicinity of the food reward, but the rattle was not triggered when the Credit: Da Cunha et al., 2026, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)