Can animals predict disaster?Last December, a tsunami (huge ocean wave) struck South Asia This article is about the geopolitical region in Asia. For geophysical treatments, see Indian subcontinent. South Asia, also known as Southern Asia and East Africa. In Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (srē läng`kə) [Sinhalese,=resplendent land], formerly Ceylon, ancient Taprobane, officially Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, island republic (2005 est. pop. , more than 30,000 people were killed. But few animals died at Yala National Park Yala National Park is a national park in Sri Lanka. The reserve covers 979 km², although only the original 141 km² are open to the public. Much of the reserve is parkland, but it also contains jungle, beaches, freshwater lakes and rivers and scrubland. . Yala is home to elephants, leopards, and monkeys, among other animals. Most of the animals escaped from the wildlife sanctuary to higher ground before the tsunami hit. To learn more about this phenomenon, tune in to "Can Animals Predict Disaster?" Part of the Nature series on PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, , the TV program will air on November 13. Caitlin O'Connell-Rodwell, a hearing expert at Stanford University in California, is featured in the program. She told JS that elephants focus on the ground before a seismic (caused by an earthquake) tremor. "[They] can tell the difference between vibrations caused by other elephants and ... an earthquake," she says. Understanding more about animals' sensitivity to environmental conditions, researchers hope, may help save human lives. |
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