Can Animals Predict Earthquakes?

There is a huge controversy surrounding the question whether animals are able to predict earthquakes or not?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2010_Haiti_earthquake_damage3.jpg

A poor neighbourhood shows the damage after an earthquake measuring 7 plus on the Richter scale rocked Port au Prince Haiti just before 5 pm, January 12, 2010.

Here are some of the facts which favour the idea that animals are good earthquake predictors:

1. The connection between animals and earthquake prediction dates back to 373 B.C. when rats, snakes and weasels fled from the Greek city of Helice just a few days prior to a devastating earthquake.

2. Probably China bears witness to one of the most successful stories of how animals saved millions of people from death when a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the densely populated city of Haicheng in China. It is said that based on erratic animal behaviour, officials evacuated the city prior to the earthquake, saving millions of lives. The most noticeable change in behaviour was the appearance of snakes out of their hibernation spots to the ground where they froze to death.

3. In the catastrophic tsunami of 2004, where 200,000 human lives were lost, loss of wildlife was negligible. As per eyewitness accounts, elephants were heard screaming, flamingos stopped roosting in their low lying areas, pets and zoo animals took cover and did not come out and most wild animals fled to higher grounds.

4. A scientific study in 2009 indicated the sensitivity of animals to earthquake. A team of scientists were documenting the breeding behaviour of common toads living in a shallow pool. During the study, at a certain point of time, all the toads seemed to have disappeared. 5 days later an earthquake jolted the region. After the last aftershock of the earthquake, the toads reappeared from their hiding place.

5. In Japan, the oarfish is referred to as the 'messenger from sea God'. Oarfish generally live in deep seas but on certain occasions, there were incidents of oarfish washing away on the shore. For example, in March 2010, several of these creatures were discovered on the shores of Japan by fishermen. This coincided with the time when Chile suffered a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giant_Oarfish.jpg

Giant  oarfish(Regalecus glesne) found on the shore of the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California

If you have any more information regarding this topic, please share your facts here in the comments section of this blog post.

To follow in subsequent blog posts : How animals can predict earthquakes? The use of animals to predict earthquakes.

References:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/animal_eqs.php 
http://rense.com/general61/use.htm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/11/1111_031111_earthquakeanimals.html http://www.livescience.com/40628-animals-predict-earthquakes-oarfish.html