• Question: Hi, Do you know why animals seem to have a sixth sense, that they know when a natural disaster is about to occur and evacuate the surrounding area, to where it is safer. I know a good example is the Boxing Day Tsunami in Indonesia and the surrounding areas (Thailand, Sri Lanka etc.) where from dawn that day no animals were seen on land, or at sea. As we are, in very distant terms, is there any theses as to whether it may be in humans, but in a recessive form?

    Asked by awood to Ed, Sam, Steve on 23 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Sam Tazzyman

      Sam Tazzyman answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      I didn’t know that no animals were seen on land or sea the day of the Boxing Day Tsunami, but it’s very surprising to me. Since I was in Thailand at the time, I know that the earthquake was very early in the morning there. So do you mean no animals were seen during the day after the earthquake, or that no animals were seen the day before (Christmas day)?

    • Photo: Steven Daly

      Steven Daly answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      It is a question that I do not think anyone has an answer for yet. It does seem that some animals are able to sense that Earthquakes in particular are going to happen. It could be that they can pick up different frequencies of sound that we cannot, or that they are more sensitive to the smaller earthquakes that tend to happen before major ones.

      However, I don’t think there is an answer for that yet.

    • Photo: Ed Morrison

      Ed Morrison answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      I think the most likely explanation is that some animals are sensitive to vibrations in the ground that may signal earthquakes, or changes in air pressure that may signal storms. Also, some animals might be sensitive to the behaviour of others, for example if all the birds stop singing, than maybe this spooks other animals who are used to it. I don’t think there’s any evidence that humans have any of these abilities.

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