2024-03-17 13:05:16
EVENT. On Monday, April 8, 2024, a rare and captivating scene will take place above Granby: a total solar eclipse. Although this event fascinates humans, few studies have looked into the reaction of animals to such a phenomenon. This is why a team of researchers is embarking on an unprecedented exploration to assess the impact of this eclipse on the behavior of certain animal species housed at the Zoo.
Under the direction of renowned astronomer Pierre Chastenay, professor of science education at UQAM, this study will document the reactions of animals during the major environmental changes caused by the eclipse. In collaboration with the Conservation and Research team at the Granby Zoo, the astronomer will observe several species before, during and following the event to differentiate usual behaviors from specific reactions to the eclipse.
A rigorous protocol was put in place to observe a dozen species, including Japanese macaques, lesser pandas, snow leopards and ostriches. “There are very few scientific publications on the subject; This research project gives us the opportunity to enrich our knowledge of animal behavior, particularly in a setting as special as an eclipse,” explains Patrick Paré, biologist and director of the Zoo’s Conservation and Research team.
During the eclipse on April 8, 2024, around 3:30 p.m., the temperature will drop by 5 to 10 degrees Celsius and the brightness will be similar to that of twilight. Researchers expect to observe typically nocturnal behaviors in the animals, thus confirming the effects of the eclipse on their routine.
“The behaviors observed during an eclipse can be surprising: during the solar eclipse of May 30, 1984, chimpanzees from the Yerkes Regional Research Center in Florida gathered atop a high structure and turned their faces and their body towards the Sun. Some young people even gestured in the direction of the Sun. This unusual behavior stopped following the eclipse and was never once more observed before or following the event,” mentions Pierre Chastenay.
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