Natural disasters are continuing to catch us off guard, often with catastrophic consequences. Despite advances in predictive technology, the gap in effectiveness can cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Could animals warn us of an ...See moreNatural disasters are continuing to catch us off guard, often with catastrophic consequences. Despite advances in predictive technology, the gap in effectiveness can cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Could animals warn us of an impending natural disaster? High-end technology can assist in built-up areas, but animals are abundant on our planet. They could save human lives in regions that have no means of financing expensive technology. We follow scientist Martin Wikelski on a journey around the globe to discover key species that could be crucial for future early warning systems. He and his colleagues have to differentiate fact from fiction. Following the Asian Tsunami of 2004 legends spread of elephants heading inland before it struck. While human casualties topped 300,000, there were no elephant deaths. Coincidence? Written by
Conan Fitzpatrick
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