White beluga whales and their strange link with Russia's 8.8 earthquake

Time of India

7 days ago

Natural disasters often hit the landscape without warning, leaving the affected people scrambling to respond. Yet, throughout history, there have been interesting stories of animals sensing danger before such events actually happen.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
While science is still looking for answers about such phenomena, social media has become a hub for sharing such accounts.
Recently, a powerful earthquake rocked Russia, causing tsunami warnings across multiple countries. Along with this event, a viral video showing beluga whales stranded on a Kamchatka shore sparked renewed interest in the idea that animals might sense impending natural calamities.
This incident has led many to question whether animals' unusual behavior could serve as early warnings, helping humans prepare for disasters.
An 8.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Kamchatka
The massive earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale struck Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The quake's epicenter was approximately 20.7 kilometers deep and about 119 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, as reported by the Associated Press. Initially, the magnitude was recorded at 8.0 by agencies in Japan and the US, but the US Geological Survey later upgraded it to 8.8. This powerful tremor triggered tsunami warnings in several countries, including the United States, Japan, Chile, and New Zealand.
The viral beluga whale video
A video widely shared on social media shows five beluga whales, including a calf, stranded on a Kamchatka shore. The whales appeared to have ventured into shallow waters and became trapped as the tide receded. Fishermen in the video can be seen keeping the whales moist and helping them return to the ocean as the tide rises again.
According to users online, this event happened just a day before the earthquake and near its epicenter, sparking speculation that the whales' behavior was a warning sign of the disaster.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
One social media user wrote, 'THE ANIMALS WARNED US – AND WE DIDN'T LISTEN. Just yesterday, five beluga whales washed ashore in Kamchatka, Russia, the exact epicenter of today's record-shattering magnitude 8.8 earthquake. Nature always knows first.
This was the warning.'
Are animals nature's early warning system?
Throughout history, animals showing unusual behaviour before natural disasters have puzzled scientists and the public. For example, before the devastating 1975 earthquake in Haicheng, China, authorities noticed nervous animal behavior and evacuated residents in time.
Similarly, during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, many animals fled to higher ground ahead of the disaster, alerting nearby humans.
It is believed that many animals can sense changes in the Earth's magnetic field or pick up on vibrations and subtle environmental cues humans cannot detect. Beluga whales, known for their social nature and unique features like their 'melon' forehead, might be among these sensitive creatures.
However, experts caution that while these observations are intriguing, they require further scientific validation and proof.
Beluga whales are sensitive creatures
Belugas are distinct white whales known for their social pods and ability to navigate vast ocean spaces. Born grey or brown, they gradually turn white by age five. Their large forehead, called a melon, helps with echolocation, making them skilled at sensing underwater environments. Some scientists say that animals like belugas may detect subtle changes in Earth's magnetic field, helping them anticipate seismic activity.
While the authenticity of the viral video remains unverified, some suggest it could be old footage.