Do Animals Have A Sixth Sense?

Many people say that animals can sense impending disasters. While it is uncertain whether animals have a third eye or a sixth sense, we need to look more carefully at the astonishing feats of which many of our animal firends are capable.

The stories are incredible, but true; the dog who travels hundreds of kilometres to return home; the cat that goes around the world to find its master; cows and horses that flee in panic before an approaching earthquake; or camels that panic shortly before a sandstorm. There are countless similar tales, all testifying to the extraordinarily sharp senses of perception among animals. The thing is uncertain is whether they have certain abilities that human beings lack. Specialists in animal behaviour reject the idea that animals are capable of extrasensory perception (ESP), for their senses of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste are similar to our own. So how can we explain phenomena such as uncannily accurate sense of direction or the premonition of impending disaster?

Among the millions of animals that populate our planet, there is a wide range of sensory perception. The night is almost impenetrable for humans, but the owl possesses specially equipped organs of sight which enable it to see equally well in darkness as in broad daylight. A rattlesnake can hunt for food during the night without any problems, as this reptile has heat-seeking sensory organs which register the heat given off by its prey.

Picking Up Sound Waves

The human ear can pick up sound waves in a frequency range between 20 and 20,000Hz. Elephants, however, can also hear low-frequency sounds below 20Hz - socalled infrasound - enabling them to hear over distances of several hundred kilometres and thus communicate over long distances. The ears of dogs and cats are receptive to ultrasound - vibrations above 20 kilohert - enabling them to detect enemies early and track down pre successfully.

Most animals, especially those mammals that are active during the night, have whiskers and sensory hairs which react with great sensitivity to touch and vibrations. A great sensitivity to touch and vibrations. A bird's feathers function like whiskers to convey information about air currents to the brain, which then directs the animal's flight movements accordingly. Some creatures can detect changes in air pressure - for example, the freshwater catfish - which explains their agitation before a thunderstorm.

An Internal Compass

Scientific studies have shown that carrier pigeons and other migratory birds are capable of registering fluctuations in the earth's magnetic field, which they use to judge their position. Even honeybees use a magnetic sensor when they build their hives, for new honey combs are orientated the same way as existing ones. Other studies show that, during their seasonal walks, penguins orientate themselves by the position of the stars in the night sky. What is certain is that each species has its own range of perception and uses the information supplied by its senses according to its individual needs and environment.