Animals Can Now Warn Us of an Impending Disaster, Such as an Earthquake or Tsunami

Animals Can Now Warn Us of an Impending Disaster, Such as an Earthquake or Tsunami

This Life Saving Device Might Be Tested at Zoological Parks Soon

The article "Sheep Collar Texts Shepherds When Wolves Attack" was published recently. Could animals warn us of impending natural disasters too, using this concept?

Swiss biologists recently devised a sheep collar to alert shepherds of wolves, and other dangers to their sheep. This collar monitors heart rate changes in the sheep and sends a text message when the sheep are frightened, such as when a wolf is near. 

It seems to me that animals could also "text" if a natural disaster was imminent, such as an earthquake, tsunami, and/or tornado.

• Animals seem to "know" when a natural disaster is imminent. Before an earthquake, animals become agitated or excited. Before a tsunami, animals will instinctively seek higher ground. Before a tornado, animals seem to know where to find shelter. Even zoo animals predicted a recent earthquake at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
• Heart Rate Monitors are well known now, especially for humans. There are also numerous studies on animals, especially horses. As shown in the sheep article below, animals can be equipped with heart rate collars or similar devices.
• The heart rates of several animals can be monitored simultaneously, as shown in the "Technical note: a noninvasive procedure for measuring goat heart rates". If multiple animals are agitated at the same time, perhaps a natural disaster is imminent.
• As shown in the sheep article and the article "Heartbeat monitoring alert via SMS", text messages can be sent based on elevated heartbeats.

From this information, it seems obvious to me that animals could also "text" if a natural disaster was imminent, such as an earthquake, tsunami, and/or tornado.

 

To test this theory, here is a suggested protocol:

 

1. Zoo animals in earthquake prone areas could be equipped with wireless heart rate monitors. Some animals are more earthquake sensitive than others are.

2. A central computer could receive the wireless signals from each of these animals simultaneously. If multiple animals in different locations in the zoo had elevated heartbeats, perhaps a natural disaster is imminent.

3. The computer could then issue an alert to appropriate people to investigate the situation further.

4. The computer could also compare local seismograph information and develop a probability of an earthquake occurring.

5. In any event, humans could be notified that the multiple animals are frightened of "something". This "something" could very well be a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, tsunami, and/or tornado.

6. Many lives could be saved with such a system, letting the animals "text" of an impending disaster. Perhaps government agencies and/or individual people could collaborate on the development of such a system. 

Of course many other variations of this concept could be tested, some of which are below.

• Many free-range animals in the wild have implanted physiological monitors relaying body-state conditions to wildlife study groups. Many of these devices use telemetry.
• Some farm animals have external or internal health monitors to aid the farmer.
• Probably the best way to initiate experimentation would be to build on the excellent work of others. Some information resources are below that show which animals are better than others to predict events. Some examples of earthquake sensitive animals are cats, dogs, snakes, catfish, parrots, etc. Worldwide ingenuity could develop "emotion sensors" for earthquake sensitive creatures, maybe even including earthquake sensitive people.
• Emotion sensors for humans sometimes measure perspiration rate to indicate emotional stress level. Some animals perspire and some do not. For those which do perspire, some areas of the body might be more indicative, e.g. palms of the hand in humans.

Takeaways:

• It is now known that sheep can send a text message when a wolf is nearby.
• This same concept could be used to predict and warn of an impending natural disaster, such as an earthquake, tsunami, and/or tornado.
• One place to experiment with this concept might be zoological parks in disaster prone areas.
• Previous studies, research, and/or patents might provide innovation insight.

For more information:

• Sheep Collar Texts Shepherds When Wolves Attack
• How Zoo Animals Predicted the DC Earthquake
• Polar Heart Monitors - Studies on Animals
• Technical note: a noninvasive procedure for measuring goat heart rates.
• Heartbeat monitoring alert via SMS (text message)
• Earthquakes and animals: from folk legends to science, by M. Ikeya, 2004, World Scientific
• When the Snakes Awake: Animals and Earthquake Prediction by Helmut Tributsch, Mit Press, 1984
• The earthquake handbook by Peter Verney, Paddington Press, Grosset & Dunlap, 1979 - Chapter 8
• World Patent Application - (WO2002037952) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SURVEILLANCE OF ANIMALS (shows collar-like device)
• World Patent Application - (WO2007058638) EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION METHOD (shows multiple animals)

Disclaimer - Article is for information only and is not medical or veterinary advice.