Animals' Sixth Sense

Adam's Apple

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Apr 25, 2004
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Tsunami adds to belief in animals' "sixth sense"
30 Dec 2004 10:51:31 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Ed Stoddard

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Wild animals seem to have escaped the Indian Ocean tsunami, adding weight to notions they possess a "sixth sense" for disasters, experts said on Thursday.

Sri Lankan wildlife officials have said the giant waves that killed over 24,000 people along the Indian Ocean island's coast seemingly missed wild beasts, with no dead animals found.

"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 on Wednesday.

The waves washed floodwaters up to 3 km (2 miles) inland at Yala National Park in the ravaged southeast, Sri Lanka's biggest wildlife reserve and home to hundreds of wild elephants and several leopards. "There has been a lot of anecdotal evidence about dogs barking or birds migrating before volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. But it has not been proven," said Matthew van Lierop, an animal behaviour specialist at Johannesburg Zoo.

"There have been no specific studies because you can't really test it in a lab or field setting," he told Reuters.

Other authorities concurred with this assessment.

"Wildlife seem to be able to pick up certain phenomenon, especially birds ... there are many reports of birds detecting impending disasters," said Clive Walker, who has written several books on African wildlife.

Animals certainly rely on the known senses such as smell or hearing to avoid danger such as predators.

The notion of an animal "sixth sense" -- or some other mythical power -- is an enduring one which the evidence on Sri Lanka's battered coast is likely to add to.
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Note from AA: I certainly believe that animals do have a "sixth sense" that alerts them to danger. When the Midwest had an earthquake out of the Ozarks some years back, my two cats were outside and, shortly before the quake began shaking things up, they ran to the back door puffed up about twice their normal size. I thought there must be a dog out in the yard chasing them, so I went outside to investigate. That's when the effects of the quake became visible. Flower pots and potted plants that we had on a shelf in the patio area started jumping up and down and you could feel the shaking of the ground. My cats picked that up before we felt the effects, and they were frightened.
 
Adam's Apple said:
Tsunami adds to belief in animals' "sixth sense"
30 Dec 2004 10:51:31 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Ed Stoddard

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Wild animals seem to have escaped the Indian Ocean tsunami, adding weight to notions they possess a "sixth sense" for disasters, experts said on Thursday.

Sri Lankan wildlife officials have said the giant waves that killed over 24,000 people along the Indian Ocean island's coast seemingly missed wild beasts, with no dead animals found.

"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 on Wednesday.

The waves washed floodwaters up to 3 km (2 miles) inland at Yala National Park in the ravaged southeast, Sri Lanka's biggest wildlife reserve and home to hundreds of wild elephants and several leopards. "There has been a lot of anecdotal evidence about dogs barking or birds migrating before volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. But it has not been proven," said Matthew van Lierop, an animal behaviour specialist at Johannesburg Zoo.

"There have been no specific studies because you can't really test it in a lab or field setting," he told Reuters.

Other authorities concurred with this assessment.

"Wildlife seem to be able to pick up certain phenomenon, especially birds ... there are many reports of birds detecting impending disasters," said Clive Walker, who has written several books on African wildlife.

Animals certainly rely on the known senses such as smell or hearing to avoid danger such as predators.

The notion of an animal "sixth sense" -- or some other mythical power -- is an enduring one which the evidence on Sri Lanka's battered coast is likely to add to.
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Note from AA: I certainly believe that animals do have a "sixth sense" that alerts them to danger. When the Midwest had an earthquake out of the Ozarks some years back, my two cats were outside and, shortly before the quake began shaking things up, they ran to the back door puffed up about twice their normal size. I thought there must be a dog out in the yard chasing them, so I went outside to investigate. That's when the effects of the quake became visible. Flower pots and potted plants that we had on a shelf in the patio area started jumping up and down and you could feel the shaking of the ground. My cats picked that up before we felt the effects, and they were frightened.

No doubt--sometimes I think animals are really little aliens !
 
I remember when I was little,and a storm was coming,our Brittany Spaniel would walk around panting and very nervous. My mom always said he knew something was coming,if not the storm. I do believe animals have some kind of instinct that is stronger than what we have.
 
Some people can do this, too. I think our "sixth sense" has just atrophied thanks to meteorologists and "The Weather Channel."
 
Hobbit said:
Some people can do this, too. I think our "sixth sense" has just atrophied thanks to meteorologists and "The Weather Channel."


Can't imagine why. They are way less accurate.
 
no1tovote4 said:
Can't imagine why. They are way less accurate.

True as that may be, people still use it. Back when there was no weather channel, people depended on their elders, especially arthritic women, who are still more accurate. Some real troopers also learned to predict storm patterns just by glancing at the sky.
 
Very nice, I appreciate the idea of 'animal sixth sense' to be discussed.
Well, As I'm in love with dogs and I can't assure you about their sixth sense. This is the reason
because of they are kept for watching.
I don't know the biological basis. Hope someone will help.
regards
 
I remember reading when that Tsunami was on the way in to hit the Indonesia that Elephants, many working at the time. Hauling tourists and such just headed for high ground inland. They completely ignored their mahouts and headed for high ground.

I'm sure they sensed something wasn't right and how right they were.
 
my son refused to propose to his g/f of several years cause our doberman didnt like her....

dogs have been proven to read humans better than other humans.

She was either affraid of the dog or she was faking some emotion for it.

domestic dogs have been designed by thousands of years with man to read and smell our emotions.
 

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