China ‘using chickens, fish and toads’ to predict earthquakes
The seismological bureau in the eastern city of Nanjing has transformed seven animal farms into seismic stations
Chinese government researchers are using chickens, fish and toads to try to predict earthquakes, media reported.
The seismological bureau in the eastern city of Nanjing has transformed seven animal farms into seismic stations, the China Daily newspaper reported last week.
Breeders on the farms are asked to update the bureau about the behavior of the animals twice a day, the report said.
Possible abnormal behavior which could indicate imminent earthquakes includes chickens flying atop trees, fish leaping out of water or toads moving in a group, it added.
Nanjing plans to recruit seven more farms into the scheme this year, it said. Facilities need to house more than three species to be eligible.
But some animal keepers seemed reluctant to become involved.
"Our zoo is not being transformed into a monitor station because the animals will display abnormal behavior when they are teased by visitors," the report quoted a local zookeeper as saying.
Using animals predict earthquakes is not new in China. State-run media said last year that the central city of Nanchang was using dogs to predict tremors.
China is regularly hit by seismic incidents, with hundreds of thousands killed in major disasters in the past. Three people died in the latest fatal earthquake last week, in the far western region of Xinjiang.
-
Turks protesting against China attack Koreans ‘by mistake’
The tourists were rescued by riot police, who fired tear gas to disperse the attackers Middle East -
China expresses displeasure with Turkey accepting Uighurs
Beijing expressed displeasure with Turkey on Friday for accepting 173 ethnic Uighurs who fled China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua ... World News -
Iran nuclear talks in endgame, negotiators push on sticking points
Talks are set to run until July 7. China and Russia optimistic on prospects for deal Analysis -
China sees ‘high possibility’ of Iran nuclear deal
According to the framework, Iran will downscale its nuclear activities in order to make any push to make nuclear weapons extremely difficult Middle East -
China says concerned over Turkish religious complaints
Uighurs complain that the officially atheistic ruling Communist Party forbids fasting Asia