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Posted on 12/29/2004 6:17:33 AM PST by NYer
As the human death toll from Sunday's earthquake and subsequent tsunami continues to skyrocket in Asia, a mystery is unfolding in Sri Lanka.
Somehow, the animals survived the disaster.
According to reports out of Colombo, Sri Lankan wildlife officials are said to be stunned.
"The strange thing is we haven't recorded any dead animals," H.D. Ratnayake, deputy director of the national Wildlife Department, told Reuters. "No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit."
"I think animals can sense disaster," he added. "They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening."
The sentiment was echoed by Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, whose Jetwing Eco Holidays runs a hotel in the Yala National Park, the country's largest wildlife reserve where hundreds of wild elephants dwell along with some 130 other species.
"This is very interesting. I am finding bodies of humans, but I have yet to see a dead animal,'' he told the Associated Press.
Floodwaters reportedly rushed up to two miles inland at the park, where 41 human bodies have been recovered so far, including 13 foreigners, according to Lanka Business Online.
Wildlife officers reportedly found a 13-year-old boy yesterday morning, the only survivor of the tsunami at the park.
Wildlife Conservation Director General Dayananda Kariyawasam told the paper except for dead fish, no carcasses of animals have been found.
The human death toll in Sri Lanka exceeds 21,000.
Animals have a keen sense of self perservation....
I wouldnt be surprised if they didnt feel something coming...
My brother's dogs used to howl and get jumpy right before an earthquake. Makes one think...
The sea gulls start leaving the coast when hurricanes get close. Animals have much hightened senses.
I have yet to see any animals other than various seabirds regularly go to the beach.
People have chosen to ignore Mother Nature and their own instincts.
In light of the absolutely horrible destruction, I will refrain from making wise-a$$ "x knew" comments (I'll leave it up to others). But that is pretty interesting re: the animals.
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AN EVALUATION OF THE ANIMAL-BEHAVIOR THEORY For Earthquake Prediction
By
RAND B. SCHAAL, Geologist
Geology Department
University of California, Davis
INTRODUCTION
The notion that animals can sense earthquakes before they occur may have originated in ancient Greece in 373 B. C. when rats, weasels, snakes, and centipedes were reported to have moved to safety several days before a destructive earthquake (Quammen, 1985). In recent years earthquake prediction based on premonitory behavior in animals has been attempted in China and Japan, but scientists in this country remain skeptical.
http://www.johnmartin.com/earthquakes/eqpapers/00000072.htm
A tsunami coming at 500 mph makes noise. Animals have better hearing the humans. They got out of dodge because they could hear the rumble off in the distance before any person could.
The wildlife "officials" and the reporter who wrote the story need a dose of common sense.
If there's people down at the beach then animals are going to stay away. And once the ocean starts acting weird the animals aren't going to walk down to the beach to see what's going on. They are going to run because it's different, out of the ordinary...dangerous.
Just from watching the birds we feed in our backyard, they disapear right before a storm. I have commented many times to my spouse, "something's gonna happen, the birds are all gone'.Well, lo and behold, a change in the weather would happen. It just seemed normal to us for them to hide right before the storm.
bump
Yeah I noticed that too.
My Newfie always goes to the basement of my parents house when a big storm is on the door step....
Years ago, I saw a lengthy documentary on how animals use the electromagnetic field of the earth to find their way around. Migrating birds use it to find nesting grounds, and cats/dogs use it to find their way 'home'. (which explains why Fido and Fluffy have to be kept inside for a few days after you move until their locater readjusts)
Any major disruption of this field would be sensed by animals, so they all probably skedaddled before the wave was halfway there.
I noticed the last several storms, she does not respond like she used to. It's so sad, but maybe she is more at ease since she can't hear the storm coming.
Other than hearing loss, she is in very lively good health!
g
The PETA people will be pleased
Ever tried to catch your cat when he doesn't want to be caught?
I read this and picture green freaks turning over human carcasses looking for animal ones. I'm so jaded...
They have four feet on the ground and no shoes.
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Most animals can run a lot faster than humans.