Gorillas, lions and lemurs appear more alert and interested than usual.
On April 8, solar eclipse fever swept across North America, attracting tens of millions of people with stunning astronomical spectacles. Many viewing parties, festivals and group weddings are held on this day.Scientists reportedly said animals including giraffes, gorillas, lions, macaws and flamingos displayed unusual behavior during the solar eclipse cbs news.
Because total solar eclipses are rare events, little is known about their effects on animals. On Monday, scientists examined animals at several zoos along the path of the total solar eclipse, including the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas. Most animals at the zoo were quiet, but some, including gorillas, lions and lemurs, showed more alertness and interest than usual. “Most importantly, we did not observe any signs of increased anxiety or nervous behavior. When totality passed, everything returned to normal almost immediately!” a zoo spokesperson said.
Many display characteristics that appear at night, such as walking toward barn doors. Gorillas, giraffes, elephants, kudus, coatis, bonobos and Aldabra giant tortoises are among the animals that make their way to the barn.
Nocturnal animals, on the other hand, have unique behaviors during the day. A ring-tailed cat and two species of owls at a Texas zoo have experienced increased daytime activity.
Zookeepers at the Dallas Zoo spotted giraffes and zebras running around during the solar eclipse. While the gorillas trooped toward the gate they use at night, the chimpanzees patrolled around the zoo’s enclosure.
An ostrich at the Dallas Zoo also laid eggs during the lunar eclipse. Other birds became quieter before totality. Penguins and flamingos cuddle up close together.
At the Indianapolis Zoo, birds are also exhibiting unusual behavior, according to zoo officials. Noisy nocturnal birds such as macaws and budgies become quiet and roost.
Notably, similar behavior was observed in animals during a 2017 solar eclipse. There are 17 species of animals at a South Carolina zoo, including mammals, birds and reptiles, the outlet reported, citing a 2020 study. Nearly 75% of species reportedly show some kind of change in their response to a solar eclipse. While some animals show signs of fear, most exhibit behaviors typically observed at night or at night.
