After many natural disasters, survivors have made observations about local domestic or wild animals acting as if they had advance warning. From the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, to the 2010 tsunami in Sumatra, to even the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, locals have stories about animals seeking to flee some unknown terror well before humans were aware of any impending threat.
It’s this impression of early knowledge that has interested scientists, as one of the best ways to improve the chance of survival for those in an affected area is that advance warning, according to an article by the BBC. However, many areas lack the sort of sophisticated detection systems that would be needed to alert people to the sort of disasters that are common where they live. Says Charlotte Francesiaz, leader of an ornithological team at the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), “Even with all the technology available today, we are not able to properly predict earthquakes or most natural catastrophes.”
As scientists look into the behavior of animals, all sorts of preliminary but promising leads have been observed. From movements of cattle or snakes in advance of quakes, goats in advance of volcanic eruptions, or birds in advance of tornadoes, evidence is growing both with respect to the awareness of animals, and the mechanisms that may allow them that early notice of an impending disaster.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220211-the-animals-that-predict-disasters
