How do animals know about earthquake in advance? Mystery explained, 50 years ago snakes helped save several people in China

A powerful earthquake in Venezuela has once again raised questions about whether animals can detect earthquakes before humans. Scientists have studied this phenomenon for decades, especially after the famous 1975 Haicheng earthquake in China, where unusual animal behavior helped authorities evacuate residents before a major quake struck. While science has not fully confirmed animals as reliable earthquake predictors, several studies suggest they may detect warning signs long before humans do.

Who First Noticed Animals Warning About Earthquakes?

One of the most famous examples comes from the 1975 Haicheng earthquake in China. Days before the magnitude-7.3 quake struck, residents reported strange behavior among snakes, dogs, rats, chickens, and fish. Snakes emerged from frozen ground despite sub-zero temperatures, dogs barked continuously, and rodents appeared unusually active.

Authorities combined these observations with a series of small tremors and ordered a large-scale evacuation. When the earthquake hit on February 4, 1975, thousands of lives were reportedly saved. The event remains one of the few successful cases where a major earthquake warning was issued before the disaster.

How Do Animals Detect Earthquakes?

Scientists believe animals may respond to several natural signals that occur before earthquakes.

Primary seismic waves (P-waves) travel faster than the destructive secondary waves. Animals may be able to detect these subtle vibrations before humans notice them.

Another theory involves underground gases. As rocks come under extreme pressure before an earthquake, gases such as radon can escape through cracks. Animals with highly sensitive senses, particularly dogs, may detect these changes.

Researchers have also studied electromagnetic changes caused by stressed rocks. Birds, fish, sharks, and some mammals are believed to sense alterations in magnetic fields before seismic activity.

Changes in groundwater chemistry, temperature, and pressure may also influence aquatic animals, causing unusual behavior before a quake occurs.

What Have Scientific Studies Found?

Several scientific studies have documented unusual animal activity before earthquakes. A German research project monitored cows, sheep, and dogs in Italy’s Apennine Mountains between 2013 and 2014. Activity trackers showed noticeable behavioral changes hours before earthquakes occurred.

Japanese researchers studying catfish also found evidence that the fish become unusually active before seismic events, possibly due to sensitivity to magnetic-field fluctuations.

In 2009, researchers observed that toads abandoned breeding sites several days before the devastating L’Aquila earthquake in Italy.

Can Animals Be Used as an Earthquake Warning System?

Scientists remain cautious. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says animals often display unusual behavior before earthquakes, but the evidence is not consistent enough to serve as a reliable standalone warning system.

However, experts believe modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning could analyze animal behavior alongside seismic data to improve future early-warning systems.

From China’s snakes and Italy’s toads to Thailand’s elephants and California’s restless dogs, animals have repeatedly shown signs of sensing natural disasters before humans. While they cannot yet replace scientific forecasting, their behavior continues to offer valuable clues about the hidden processes occurring beneath the Earth’s surface.