Zoo animals to help in quake prediction

ANIMALS in a north-eastern Chinese zoo are helping officials predict earthquakes. 

The Anshan Zoo, named after the city where it is located in Liaoning Province, was brought into the city's seismological macro-observation network this week. 

“About a week before an earthquake happens, animals tend to behave abnormally,” said Xu Jing, deputy chief engineer of the city's seismological bureau.  

The more abnormal the animals' behaviour, the stronger the earthquake is likely to be, said Xu.  

The zookeepers were given a new mission: report to the seismological bureau whenever they find the animals acting strangely.  

Together with the micro-monitoring result done with instruments, the local seismological administration believes that its earthquake forecasting would become more accurate.  

It is believed that more than 100 kinds of animals can “predict” earthquakes, including horses, donkeys, pigs, cattle, dogs, cats and chickens. Some become restless, dazed or show changes in certain habits ahead of an impending quake.  

China experiences the most earthquakes in the world. – China Daily  

Asia News Network