These animals can sense natural disasters before humans

From dogs barking uncontrollably to birds flying off in unusual patterns, animals seem to pick up on subtle environmental changes that humans often miss. Here are some animals that seem to have a “sixth sense”.

Elephants

Elephants are known to pick up very low-frequency vibrations through their feet. Some researchers believe they can feel the Earth shifting beneath them.

This might explain why herds have been seen moving to higher ground hours before a tsunami hits. One such incident happened in India’s Bhuj, when eyewitness accounts stated that animals had been fleeing for higher ground and that dogs apparently refused to go outdoors, according to the BBC.

Dogs

Pet owners often report their dogs acting restless, barking, or hiding before earthquakes or heavy storms. With their sharp hearing and ability to sense atmospheric changes, dogs might pick up on the first hints of danger.

Cats

Cats have incredibly sensitive ears and whiskers. In places where earthquakes are common, people have noticed their cats behaving erratically—hiding, meowing, or pacing just before tremors begin.

Cats have incredibly sensitive ears and whiskers (Source: Freepik)

Birds

Birds tend to react to changes in air pressure and wind patterns. Before major storms or hurricanes, some species are known to suddenly flee or change their flight direction, even if the skies still look calm.

Toads

In one unusual case in L’Aquila, Italy, toads disappeared from their breeding grounds days before a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit the area. Some scientists think toads are sensitive to shifts in groundwater chemistry that happen before the ground shakes.

Goats

On the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, goats have been observed acting anxious and restless before volcanic eruptions. Their movements are now being studied as part of a system to predict eruptions.

Although the idea of animals predicting disasters is still being studied, there’s growing interest in using animal behaviour as an early warning system.

Projects like ICARUS, short for International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space, run by scientists around the world, are using GPS collars and tracking devices to see if animal movement patterns can help forecast natural events in the future.

From the homepage

‘Regime change’ conspiracy behind 2020 riots, Delhi Police tell SC; oppose bail to accused

RJD’s challenge in Siwan: Shahabuddin is dead. Long live Shahabuddin

‘I had money, I paid. What will poor do?’: Retired BPCL CFO’s post on bribery ordeal after daughter’s death goes viral; 2 Bengaluru cops suspended