A study in Botswana, Africa shows that painting eyes on the backsides of cows may help protect (they) from large predators(肉食动物) like lions. Protecting cows could also help protect the lions — from angry farmers. Lions eat farm animals. So farmers kill lions (protect) their farm animals.
Researchers from the University of New South Wales spent four years (study) what would happen if they painted pictures of eyes on the backsides of cows. They (work) with over 2,000 cows on 14 different farms in the Okavango area. They put the cows three different groups. They painted large eyes on the backsides of one group of cows. The (two) group got simple Xs. The final group got nothing.
The results were fantastic. The eyes worked (excellent). Of the 683 cows with eyes painted on them, none were killed in the four (year). Cows with nothing on their backsides didn't do so well. 15 of the 835 unpainted cows were killed. They were surprised to learn that even Xs seemed to give cows some protection. Only 4 of the 543 cows with Xs were killed.
However, the researchers aren't sure whether the eyes would work so well when all of the cows have them. Still, for now, it seems like a (practice) way to protect cows in the area.
