Animals Can Predict Earthquakes Many Days in Advance

Scientists have confirmed that birds are able to perceive earthquake about three weeks before it happens. 

In a document published by Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, researchers led by Dr Rachek Grant of Anglia Ruskin University reported abnormal behaviour of birds just before the earthquake hit the Contamana region of Peru in 2011.

Animals can predict earthquakes

The findings could help with future prediction of natural disasters to help mitigate potential damages. In the mountainous Yanachaga National Park in Peru, cameras that are sensitive to motion triggers captured footage of bird movements in the region. The cameras are known to sight a certain number of birds on any normal situation. However, some 23 days just before the earthquake struck Contamana, an unusual movement of birds was captured on the camera. The number of bird sighting was high in the three weeks that led the fateful earthquake day. 

The scientists noted that while more birds seemed to be moving away from Contamana region 23 days before the earthquake, the number of bird sighting dropped drastically five to seven days before the actual earthquake occurred in the region. In fact, there was no bird sighting on the last few days just before the earthquake, which was captured at 7.0 on the rector scale. (APP)