Believe it or not; but fact remains that animals have proved as the best friend of man especially in predicting an earthquake. A great catastrophe can be averted, if we keenly observe and watch movements and behaviour of animals. In addition to geophysical, geological and chemical methods, the animals have also predicted earthquakes in the past.

History proves that animals could sense earthquakes before it actually occur. During 373 BC, rats, snakes and weasels suddenly moved to places of safety well before the earthquake occurred. In 1974, people noticed rats, snakes and other reptiles lying around listlessly in Heichang (China) where larger animals like cows and horses felt agitated. Rats were found drunk, chickens refused to enter their coops and geese frequently took to flight as evidence of the looming earthquake. It is said that such behaviour of animals saved colossal loss of lives.

A team of scientists comprising biologists, metrologists, geophysicists and other experts have recently conducted a survey of the affected areas and collected evidence of animal behaviour before an earthquake. In 1990, three calm rabbits suddenly started jumping wildly in a laboratory in Los Angles predicting an earthquake which did occur later.

Chances of earthquake are found high when (a) wolves start running around wildly in packs, (b) dogs start barking and howling unusually, (c) sparrows and birds start twittering loudly and start flying high towards sky and (d) giant pandas, tigers, yalks and deer start behaving strangely. All this proves beyond doubt that animals have an extra sense.

The instances of unusual animal behaviour make us believe that animals do have an extra sense due to which they become the best friend of mankind. However, modern scientists do not believe that ‘coming events cast shadow before’.