You laughably say that perhaps the animals sensed a disaster and returned when it was over, well what did they eat? Where are the fossil records? How did they swim across the Atlantic and Pacific to get home with no food?
How do we know which continents & oceans were around then? The Bible speaks of the land arising from the water, not lands. How do you know that the oceans' water didn't come from this flood?
"How do we know which continents & oceans were around then? The Bible speaks of the land arising from the water, not lands. How do you know that the oceans' water didn't come from this flood?
"
When is it that you think the flood occurred? If you answer that question, then I can answer yours.
How do we know?
Science!
We know about continental drift and where the landmasses were millions of years ago. Of course, lots of ark believers think the earth is 5000 years old.
You ark folk are bending over backwards with unprovable theories, a bunch of "perhaps" and "maybe" and other mental gymnastics because you are beginning realize that the ark story was a fable, but you still want to believe, like a child trying to rationalize Santa Claus.