Animals Can Predict Natural Disasters    [08-04-2011] Animals have many amazing abilities. Some animals have an excellent sense of smell. For example, a dog’s sense of smell is about 1,000 times more sensitive than that of humans! Some animals can see very well at night, and some animals can jump very high. Many animals can also predict natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, and tsunamis. If you see an animal acts strangely all of a sudden without any clear reasons, that may mean an earthquake or a tsunami is coming. If you observe animals’ behavior carefully, you may be able to predict earthquakes or tsunamis. Before an earthquake, catfish move violently and bees leave their hives. Chickens also stop laying eggs. Elephants trumpet wildly and flee to higher ground. Pets such as dogs and cats act strangely before the ground shakes, too. Dogs bark or whine for no apparent reason. Cats also show signs of nervousness. In fact, the belief that animals can predict earthquakes has been around for centuries. Historians recorded that many animals, including rats, snakes, and weasels left the Greek city of Helice in 373 B.C. just days before a strong earthquake hit the city. Scientists believe that animals can feel the Earth vibrate before humans. Sadly, however, we cannot ask them when an earthquake or a tsunami will come. Even if we ask them, they will not answer! We will just have to observe their behavior carefully all the time. In the mean time, we also have to learn how to stay safe when natural disasters occur!     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)