Animals Unusual Behaviors - Essay Example

Is It Possible That An Animal Can Sense Or Forecast A Volcanic Eruption Before It Happens Animals Unusual Behaviors Most of the animals show unusualbehavior before any eruption of a volcano or any other natural disaster. We shall consider volcanic eruptions in particular as this is the theme of our essay, however, unusual behaviors are quite common as a response of different calamities. This unusual behavior is often believed as a phenomenon indicative of the heightened sixth sense they have as compared to human beings. Animals usually have better instinct that mankind which they use against catching their prays and for survival in the wild. The phenomenon is also common in both wildlife animals as well as household pets like cats and dogs. However, it is often considered that animals belonging to wildlife have a greater instinct that that of household pets. Apart from animals, in the form of mammals or reptiles, some common insects, ants in particular, also show some unusual behavior at the time of volcanic eruptions. We can infer to a certain degree that is superior instinct is present in animals due to closer connection with mother nature that they have as compared to human beings, who have grown more towards exploiting nature for the purpose of developing civilizations and urbanizations. Some example of animals is given below to elaborate the exact behavior they show according to their kind and habitation. Cats Cats are a common form of pets that most people would love to have. It can also be said about cats that they have a better responsive instinct towards their environment and are often attentive to abnormalities within their environment of existence. As a result, a common behavior among cats of different kinds, regions and breeds is observed as they start jumping, hiding, running, trying to escape outside when they feel any danger of natural disaster. Pacing, hissing, or growling are also their unusual behaviors that can be seen particularly at the time of any volcanic activity. Cats may try to hide and look for a safe place such as refrigerators, cupboards, beds, sofas, shelves, etc. Dogs It can be rightly said that dog is man's best friend. This is because of the high degree of responsiveness they show towards human action and behavior. Man has often relied on dogs as a trustworthy pet, especially in case of emergency or calamity. Generally, dogs are considered the most devoted animal to owners. Dogs have an elevated sense and are always ready protect their owners. Before any natural disaster or any volcano eruption, they also start behaving unusually. Generally, dogs do not hide like cats but start acting in the unusual manners: Howling Barking Aggression Whining Increased devotion to owners Continuous movement around the doors or windows Sticking or following you like glue Before any volcanic eruption, some dogs may become more protective or aggressive while others will be fearful or act dejected. Pay attention to their personalities and individual needs and you will be able to avoid trouble. Drastic differences in the number of advertised lost dogs and the animal shelter loads can precede quake activity in a specific area. Large increases in these numbers could give you a clue to up coming earth activity. 1 Horses and Livestock Those animals that have hooves also start acting in an unusual way before any volcanic eruption. They are grouped together in open areas and behave in a nervous pattern or pace. In addition, these animals often refuse to enter their burns and pens, and refuse to tie. Other Animals Other animals also act like disturbed animals by showing various types of unusual behaviors. Birds are a common example. A number of breeds of birds often show intelligent behaviors in the form of nesting and migration. A change of season can also be related to their migrating behavior. This means that they are far more conscious about the changing atmosphere. If we analyze the common type of volcano, we can see that there are volcanoes which do not erupt immediately rather emit certain gases before eruption. The explosiveness of a volcanic eruption depends on how easily magma can flow and the amount of gas trapped in it. Large amounts of water and carbon dioxide are dissolved in magma. They behave like gas in fizzy drinks. After opening the bottle the gas expands, forming bubbles that escape. This also happens when magma rises quickly through the crust - gas bubbles form and expand up to 1000 times their original size.2 Animals in general and birds in particular can sense this immediately. As a result, breeding birds sometimes not only give up on their eggs but also discard them from their nests. Wild birds become quiet or are not visible while caged birds will often hang on their cages, sometimes they will flap hysterically, or they can be unusually quiet. Other animals also exhibit unusual behavior. Animals like snakes, bears etc that are on hibernation may emerge immediately before an explosive eruption. This is also due to the evolving heat in the ground before an eruption and in case these sorts of animals are located near a volcano. Other insects like spiders and ants move indoors. Ants can be seen migrating from their den. Even though this behavior may be due to a number of reasons, one possible reason, which becomes more probable, is a volcanic eruption in case a volcano is nearby. Rodents also show unusual behavior patterns. Mice can often be seen invading the house or they might disappear altogether in case they were resident. This unusual pattern does not necessarily depict a forecast of a volcanic eruption but we can safely say that in case a volcano is nearby, the probability of an eruption is much higher.3 It is also important to understand that all the given examples are not necessarily altogether perfectly reliable. Animals may not react in the given mentioned manner. They might react in some other form which may seem normal to us. These are only clues that have been observed on several occasions. Animals Sense - Example The recent Tsunami (2004) that took over 300 thousand lives and made millions homeless had also given a very good example of animals sense or sixth sense. According to the Srilankan wildlife officials that giant waves of tsunami that killed 24, 000 thousands people alone in the Indian Ocean island coast did not take a life of a single animal. "No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit. I think animals can sense disaster. They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening," H.D. Ratnayake, deputy director of Sri Lanka's Wildlife Department, said Wednesday.4 How to Avoid Volcanoes Destruction Like all other natural disasters, the only way to reduce the number of casualties from any volcanic eruption is the timely evacuation from the area. The question in context of this essay thus arises: Can animals really be relied upon as a precautionary measure for volcanic eruptions With the advancements of modern day technology, we can now easily monitor unusual patterns or movements within the earth's crust. The question therefore to rely on animals does not really arise. But as mankind increased their efforts to prevent destruction from natural disasters, Nature has too been merciless on various occasions and disasters have occurred often instantly without any prior warning. Although, we cannot avoid the destructions of the buildings but at least we would be able to save many human beings life. The danger of volcanoes primarily exists in the under developing countries or areas where monitoring is not reliable. In fact, they don't have any monitoring system at all that can tell them regarding the volcanic activity before hand. In these areas, animals are used and can be used for volcanic prediction purposes as they start acting in an unusual way that can be observed easily. The rule of the thumb is to note the unusual behavior of animals - especially of cats, horses and livestock. Even if there is an increased reliance of technology, animals may yet show a pattern and help us in identifying a possible threat before hand especially in the absence of such technology. Conclusion From the above discussion, we can conclude that volcanoes eruption cannot be avoided at all. But we can save human lives by on time evacuation from the area where the volcano is going to erupt. The information regarding the eruption can only be taken by using latest comprehensive technologies. Getting the comprehensive technology for this purpose seems pretty difficult as poor or under developing countries cannot afford it. But these countries can avoid the destruction of human lives by monitoring the behavior of animals or possibly a combination of this with some form of technology. Animals start showing unusual behavior before any natural disaster. It has been proved by many animal behaviors specialists that animals can sense natural disasters before hand. In a sentence, we can say that animals can sense natural disasters better than human beings. And indeed, they can sense or forecast volcanoes eruption before it happens. Works Cited Animals Can Sense Disaster-They Have a Sixth Sense http://worldvisionportal.org/WVPforum/viewtopic.phpp=1144 (Accessed March 18, 2006) Internet Changes Everything: Tsunami Adds to Belief in Animals' 'Sixth Sense' http://www.ladlass.com/ice/archives/009107.html (Accessed March 18, 2006) Geoscience Australia: Types of volcanoes http://www.ga.gov.au/urban/factsheets/volcanoes_types.jsp (Accessed March 18, 2006) Geoscience Australia: What is a volcano http://www.ga.gov.au/urban/factsheets/volcanoes.jsp (Accessed March 18, 2006) Seismic Sentries Animal Disaster Predictions: Expert Comments http://www.arkanimals.com/dlg/seismic_sentries_animal_disaster_predictions.htm (Accessed March 18, 2006) Read More