Fishermen help stranded beluga whales on Kamchatka beach before Russia’s massive earthquake strikes.
A devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, which was one of the strongest quakes ever. The epicenter was approximately 119 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 20.7 km, the Associated Press stated. U.S. and Japanese agencies first measured it at 8.0, but the US Geological Survey later upgraded it to 8.8. There were tsunami warnings in various nations, such as Japan, the United States, Chile, and New Zealand.
In the wake of reports of earthquake and tsunami warning, a viral clip emerged online that showed a pod of beluga whales beached along a Kamchatka beach only a day prior to the quake. The video went viral on social media, fueling speculations that the stranding of the whales could have been a warning of the calamity.
In the video, five beluga whales, including a calf, are stranded in shallow water. Fishermen near the area quickly came to their aid, pouring seawater over the whales to prevent them from dying and assisting them back into the sea as high tide came in.
Responding to the incident, a viewer stated, "Five beluga whales came ashore in Kamchatka one day before the 8.8 quake. Nature warned us, but we didn't hear it." Another user labeled it 'an untypical and strange phenomenon' and followed up with, "Animals as Earthquake Sensors: Beluga Whales and the Kamchatka Quake."
The controversy notwithstanding, some users are still doubtful about the video, claiming it is old.
Beluga whales also known as white whales are recognized by their unusual ivory color and bulbous, elastic foreheads referred to as melons. Belugas are born brown or grey and over time turn white at the age of five. Extremely social, belugas usually occur in groups made up of close relatives or community members.
Scientists have always been intrigued by the seemingly unique ability of some animals to sense the Earth's magnetic field, which leads them across vast distances. The ability exists in animals such as birds, sea turtles, and lobsters, but not humans.
The idea that animals are natural disaster forecasters has been explored previously. There are historical instances that attest to the possibility:
1975, Haicheng, China: The local authorities evacuated nearly 100,000 individuals after they witnessed frantic animal movement. A few days later, a massive 7.3-magnitude earthquake destroyed 90% of the city.
2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: While warning systems created by humans were not up to par, it seemed animals received the memo. Elephants, dogs, flamingos, and other animals were observed fleeing to higher ground just minutes before the tsunami hit. In Thailand's Bang Koey village, buffalo certainly felt the coming wave, and villagers trailed behind many crediting animals with saving lives.
While it's not known for sure if the belugas that became stranded in Kamchatka were directly associated with the earthquake, the timing has put forth the topic of discussions again as to how animals can be the warning system of nature.
As another reader wrote, "Nature gave us a warning, but we failed to listen."
