'Unusual Event' Occurred A Day Before 8.8 Magnitude Quake Hit Russia: 'Animals Warned...'
An 8.8 earthquake hit Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, causing tsunami warnings. Viral video shows beluga whales ashore, sparking debate on their disaster sensing abilities.
An earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, one of the biggest ever recorded, struck Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, July 30. The epicentre of the earthquake was 20.7 kilometres deep, around 119 kilometres from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, according to the Associated Press. The powerful tremor prompted tsunami warnings in multiple nations, including the United States, Japan, Chile, and New Zealand. Japan and US agencies first recorded the earthquake's magnitude as 8.0, but the US Geological Survey later upgraded it to 8.8.
In this vein, a viral video has sparked debate on social media, with many believing that a group of beluga whales washing ashore in Kamchatka, Russia, may have been a warning sign for the recent 8.8 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami in the region.
The video, which has been widely shared online, shows five beluga whales, including a calf, stranded on the shore in Kamchatka. The whales presumably ventured into shallow waters and failed to swim out as the tide receded, resulting in them becoming beached. In the clip, a group of fishermen can be seen keeping the whales moist with seawater and helping them swim back to the ocean as the high tide returns.
The incident is claimed to have occurred a day before the massive earthquake hit Kamchatka, with some users pointing out that the location of the whale stranding was near the epicentre of the earthquake. This has sparked discussion over whether animals sensed the disaster before it struck.
Many social media users have expressed their views on the incident, with some believing that the belugas' unusual behaviour was a 'sign" or warning of the impending disaster. Some users have taken to social media to share their thoughts, with one user posting, 'THE ANIMALS WARNED US – AND WE DIDN'T LISTEN. Just yesterday, five beluga whales washed ashore in Kamchatka, Russia, the exact epicentre of today's record-shattering magnitude 8.8 earthquake. Nature always knows first. This was the warning."
Another said, 'Five beluga whales washed ashore in Kamchatka just a day before the 8.8 earthquake. Nature gave us a warning, but we failed to listen."
'Animals as Earthquake Sensors: Beluga Whales and the Kamchatka Quake. Just a day before the powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Kamchatka, Russia, an unusual and haunting event occurred—five beluga whales mysteriously washed ashore along the coast, directly at the earthquake's epicenter," the third user posted.
However, the authenticity of the video remains unverified, with some suggesting it could be an old clip.
About Belugas
The beluga, also known as the white whale, stands out from other whales due to its pearly colour. When beluga puppies are born, they are grey or brown, but as they grow, they gradually fade to white, a process that is normally completed by the age of five. Another distinguishing trait of the beluga is its huge, round, squishy forehead, known as a melon. Belugas are extremely social creatures that live in pods or groups made up of family and friends.
What Is The Animals' Secret Ability To Detect Earth's Magnetic Field?
For decades, scientists have been perplexed by animals' capacity to detect the Earth's magnetic field, which aids organisms such as birds, sea turtles, lobsters, and even some plants in finding direction, migrating, and navigating long distances. While the phenomenon is widely observed in nature, humans do not appear to share this sensory skill in any visible or practical way.
There have been several instances across the world where animals have exhibited unusual behaviour before natural disasters struck. Some notable examples include:
top videos
View all
Earthquake in China (1975): In 1975, the city of Haicheng in China became one of the most well-known examples of how animal behaviour was used to anticipate earthquakes. Around one lakh people were evacuated when authorities discovered odd and nervous behaviour in animals. Only hours later, a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck, destroying over 90% of the city.
Tsunami (2004): The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated coastal communities, killing 2,25,000 people across 12 countries. While manmade warning systems failed, many animals seemed to sense the impending disaster. Eyewitnesses reported elephants, flamingos, dogs, buffalo, cows, goats, cats, and birds fleeing to higher ground or moving inland before the tsunami struck. In Thailand's Bang Koey village, buffalo suddenly pricked their ears, gazed out to sea, and stampeded to a nearby hill minutes before the tsunami hit. Survivors followed the animals' lead, and many believe their behaviour served as a natural warning system, potentially saving lives.
About the Author
News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!
tags :
Earthquake Russia viral news
view comments
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
July 30, 2025, 12:32 IST
News viral 'Unusual Event' Occurred A Day Before 8.8 Magnitude Quake Hit Russia: 'Animals Warned...'
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
16 hours ago
- India Today
Guinea pigs to lions? Danish zoo wants unwanted pets for predator meals
In a move that's raising both eyebrows and debate, a zoo in Denmark is asking the public to consider donating their small pets not for adoption, but for animal Zoo, located in northern Denmark, says it's trying to recreate the natural food chain for its carnivores and is encouraging people to hand over animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens — even horses — to be euthanized and fed to predators inside the the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity,' the zoo wrote in a Facebook post, 'we try to mimic nature as closely as possible when it comes to feeding our predators.' The zoo insists all animals will be 'gently euthanized' by trained staff and used in a way that promotes the 'natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators.''That way, nothing goes to waste,' the zoo post includes a photo of a wildcat with its jaws open and a link to the zoo's website, where it also notes interest in receiving larger animals, including horses.'If you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us,' the zoo said, though it did not clarify whether other common pets like cats or dogs would be accepted. The zoo has not provided further request has sparked a mix of reactions online — with some applauding the transparency and practicality of the idea, and others disturbed by the concept of pets becoming prey.- EndsInputs from Associated Press
News18
16 hours ago
- News18
‘Nothing Goes To Waste': Zoo In Denmark Asks For Pet Donations To Feed Predators
The zoo assured prospective donors that their pets would be 'gently euthanised' by trained staff. A zoo in Denmark has sparked widespread public outrage following a controversial request for pet animals to be donated as food for its carnivorous residents. The Aalborg Zoo, located in northern Denmark, recently shared a Facebook post asking locals not for money or supplies, but for their unwanted pets. According to a report by the Associated Press, the zoo made the appeal as part of its effort to create a more natural feeding environment for its predators. In the post, the zoo explained that the initiative was aimed at mimicking the natural food chain, describing the move as being 'for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity". The zoo assured prospective donors that their pets would be 'gently euthanised" by trained staff before being offered as feed. The post stated, 'If you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us." In a translated version of the post, zoo officials clarified that they are particularly seeking chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, animals that, according to the zoo, better contribute to a predator's diet and can be fed whole. 'That way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators," the zoo wrote. Surprisingly, the zoo is also open to accepting horses as donations. According to information on the zoo's website, horse owners who donate their animals may be eligible for a tax deduction equivalent to the horse's value. However, specific criteria must be met before a horse can be accepted: the animal must be free of illness or treatment for at least a month prior to donation, and it must meet certain size requirements and be transported safely. The Facebook post was accompanied by an image of a wild cat with its mouth wide open, seemingly yawning. The zoo also included a direct link to its website for further information on the donation process. In an interview with the BBC, the zoo's deputy director, Pia Nielsen, defended the appeal, stating that the carnivores at Aalborg Zoo had been fed smaller livestock 'for many years." She said, 'When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones to give them as natural a diet as possible." She further explained that such practices are not unusual in their country. 'In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute. The livestock we receive as donations are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses," she added. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : Denmark First Published: August 05, 2025, 05:52 IST News viral 'Nothing Goes To Waste': Zoo In Denmark Asks For Pet Donations To Feed Predators Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Tremors Felt In New York As 3-Magnitude Earthquake Hits New Jersey
Hasbrouck Heights: A small earthquake rattled the New York metropolitan area Saturday night. The US Geological Survey said the tremor had a magnitude of 3.0. It hit in the New Jersey suburb of Hasbrouck Heights, less than 8 miles (13 kilometers) west of Central Park, at a depth of about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers). One resident of New York's Brooklyn borough described it as a very brief tremor, just a slight swaying for a moment. Nevertheless, social media quickly lit up with people who felt it. The official account of the Empire State Building reported in on the social platform X to say: "I AM FINE." The tremor was much milder than a 4.8-magnitude quake in 2024 that struck in Tewksbury, New Jersey, a little farther west of the city.
