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The event was a natural disaster of extreme proportions, but the death toll was particularly high because residents received no prior warning of the event.
In Bang Koey, Thailand, there were reports of a herd of buffalo stampeding to the top of a nearby hill just minutes before the tsunami struck.
But according to eyewitness accounts following the event, the local wildlife seemed to have sensed it coming and prepared accordingly.
In 2004, a 9.1 undersea earthquake triggered a tsunami that destroyed coastal communities across the Indian Ocean and killed 225,000 people across a dozen countries.
There were reports of elephants running for higher ground, flamingos fleeing from low-lying areas, and dogs refusing to go outdoors.
Given that early warning systems do not exist in many corners of the world, could this seemingly unique ability of animals be harnessed as a warning system for humans?
One key study was carried out some five years ago by a team at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany. It involved logging the behavior of farm animals in an earthquake-prone region of Italy.
According to Charlotte Francesiaz, who leads a 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.”
It will come as little surprise, then, to learn that the ability of animals to sense an impending natural disaster is an increasingly hot area of research.
This is not the only example of a natural disaster that appears to have been preempted by the local wildlife. And, of course, it begs an important question.
The research was able to correctly predict seven out of eight strong earthquakes using this important observation of the farm animals.
The researchers saw that if the animals were collectively 50% more active for 45 minutes or longer, they could predict an earthquake of 4.0 or stronger.
The animals were chipped and their movement data was sent to a computer every few minutes over the period from October 2016 and April 2017.
Further studies have yielded similar results. One study in the region of the Mount Etna volcano in Sicily showed that goats had a sense of impending volcanic activity.
During that period, over 18,000 earthquakes were recorded in the region and the study showed that the animals started to change their behavior up to 20 hours before each event.
One study in the Peruvian Andes showed a change in animal behavior ahead of the magnitude 7.0 Contamana earthquake in 2011.
While it seems possible, then, that changes in animal behavior may be used to predict earthquakes, scientists will need to observe a larger number of animals over a longer time to be sure.
These perturbations may start up to two weeks before a natural disaster, and scientists are now looking into whether it's actually these that animals are able to sense.
Importantly, the study in the Andes showed how it may be that animals detect an impending event. It possibly has to do with electromagnetic perturbations in the atmosphere.
For this, some scientists are turning to the global animal observation system, Icarus, which resides on the International Space Station.
The former director of the bureau, Jiang Weisong, once said, "Of all the creatures on the earth, snakes are perhaps the most sensitive to earthquakes.”
And scientists think that it might not be only earthquakes that animals are able to predict. There is currently research underway into whether birds can predict tornadoes.
In the meantime, China has already introduced an earthquake alert system at its earthquake bureau in Nanning. It uses the change in snakes’ behavior to predict quakes.
He continued, "When an earthquake is about to occur, snakes will move out of their nests, even in the cold of winter."
Icarus was set up in 2002, and aims to provide an accurate observation system for tagged small animals to provide data about the connection between animal life and the planet’s physical systems.
One study from 2014 suggested that a flock of birds was able to sense an impending set of twisters from more than 400 km (250 miles) away.
But not all scientists agree that changes in animal behavior constitute a reliable or even viable method of predicting natural disasters.
It may be, however, that their abilities are used in conjunction with other early warning systems. But it seems likely their predictive capabilities will simply be ignored.
Sources: (BBC)
There were a few contributing factors for the lack of warning, but a major one was that local tidal and earthquake sensors had failed to raise any proper alert.
According to Irina Rafliana, who is a researcher at the German Development Institute in Bonn, "Many of those [people] who survived ran along with these animals or immediately after."
Natural disasters have the potential to cause huge devastation. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and tornadoes have been known to decimate communities and wipe out unthinkable numbers of human lives. The amount of destruction caused can be significantly reduced if communities have sufficient warning of an impending event, but effective early warning systems are lacking in many areas of the world.
In light of this, scientists are becoming increasingly interested in the unique ability of animals to predict an impending natural disaster. Indeed, many species have been shown to change their behavior in the hours, days, and even weeks before an event.
Intrigued? Check out this gallery to learn how animals are able to predict disaster.
These animals can save you from a natural disaster
Learn about the potential for applying their talents
LIFESTYLE Emergency
Natural disasters have the potential to cause huge devastation. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and tornadoes have been known to decimate communities and wipe out unthinkable numbers of human lives. The amount of destruction caused can be significantly reduced if communities have sufficient warning of an impending event, but effective early warning systems are lacking in many areas of the world.
In light of this, scientists are becoming increasingly interested in the unique ability of animals to predict an impending natural disaster. Indeed, many species have been shown to change their behavior in the hours, days, and even weeks before an event.
Intrigued? Check out this gallery to learn how animals are able to predict disaster.