▲Giraffes run wild during a total solar eclipse
On April 8, the North American continent ushered in a total solar eclipse for the first time in a long time, and people across the United States enthusiastically watched it. Some people pay a high price to take a "light-chasing flight" to watch the solar eclipse up close, and some people take advantage of the time when the sun is completely "swallowed" to hold a romantic wedding......
But while humans were all engaged in the total solar eclipse, the wild animals were in a panic, and the sudden darkness of the earth sent them into a panic. Scientists say that a rare astronomical phenomenon called a total solar eclipse disrupts the rhythm of life that many animals rely on sunlight to regulate, and the impact on animals is unpredictable.
Animals react abnormally during a total solar eclipse
At the zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, giraffes run wild during a total solar eclipse and squeeze each other's slots in an attempt to get into the night fence early. Other animals such as gorillas and tortoises reacted similarly, and the gorillas, which had been scattered around the corners and frolicking, stood up en masse and began to move towards the place where they slept at night.
Adams, a local zoologist, said the sudden darkness caused great confusion among primates. "They will think it's getting late and suddenly wonder why they're still outside, why the caretaker hasn't opened the gate of the night fence, why dinner hasn't been handed out. ”
Observations from Syracuse University in the United States point out that a large number of animals confuse day and night during a total solar eclipse. "Animal singers commonly found in nocturnal choruses, such as frogs and crickets, may begin to sing, while animals that vocalize during the day, such as most cicadas, may stop singing. Scientists observed bees returning to their hives during the eclipse, nocturnal moths starting to fly, and spiders that caught insects with their webs during the day starting to tear their webs off, the report said. In addition, nocturnal migratory birds and insects have also been shown to take off during solar eclipses.
▲Birds can also be abnormal during solar eclipses
As early as June 3, 1239, the Italian monk Lesotho recorded the frightened behavior of the animals during a total solar eclipse, "when the sun disappeared and the sky darkened, all the beasts and birds were terrified, and the wild beasts were easily caught".
During a solar eclipse in Portugal on August 21, 1560, the astronomer Clavius wrote that "birds fell from heaven to earth in fear of such terrible darkness". Records over the centuries that followed showed that not only did animals on land react abnormally during solar eclipses, but even whales in the ocean jumped out of the water.
Scientists: Solar eclipses break the rhythm of animal life
According to the Center for Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, the darkness caused by a solar eclipse can disrupt a pet's biological clock, leading to confusion and anxiety. Animals with a history of anxiety may exhibit behaviors such as whining, pacing, panting, or hiding at this time.
It has been reported that the danger during the eclipse comes from possible conflicts between the activities of humans and animals. Because people flock out to watch the eclipse for a short period of time, nocturnal animals often appear suddenly, and diurnal animals return to their nests en masse. During a previous solar eclipse, scientists in the United States observed a significant increase in the number of animals killed by cars on the road.
▲ Pet dogs wear glasses to watch the solar eclipse
Nelson, a biologist at Lund University in Sweden, said that light is an extremely powerful force that regulates the behavior of animals and plants. Many animals rely on changes in light over a 24-hour period to regulate sleep, foraging, resting, hunting, and other behaviors, and rare solar eclipses can be confusing. However, there are exceptions, such as the unresponsive grizzly bear, which behaves very "calmly" during the eclipse, and nothing special seems to happen.
In addition, scientists say that there will be a general drop in temperature during a solar eclipse. Taking this total solar eclipse in North America as an example, the temperature in many places dropped by 8-15 degrees Fahrenheit (about 4.4-8.3 degrees Celsius) in a short period of time. Changes in temperature can also affect the normal activities of animals, for example, due to the influence of cold air currents, birds of prey such as eagles tend to stop circling during a total solar eclipse.
(Source: Red Star News)