# Do Animals Act Strangely During a Solar Eclipse? Scientists observe unusual animal behaviors during eclipses. - **Source:** [Scientific American Content: Global](https://brifing.si/source/4f066134-e06d-4415-87ef-305e3dc2aba6) - **Published:** 2026-07-23 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c8fad077-d64d-4752-9a5a-1bb7bce9fc12 ## Animal Reactions to Eclipses During the 2017 total solar eclipse, zoo animals exhibited unexpected behaviors. Baboons huddled together, flamingos circled their young, and giraffes began galloping. These observations raised new questions about how animals respond to such rare celestial events. ## Human Influence Researchers found that animal behavior changes might stem not just from the eclipse but also from human reactions. Crowds' excitement and noise could affect animals. Observations in 2024, without visitors, showed calmer animal behavior. ## Twilight Confusion Some animals mistook the eclipse for dusk and began their nighttime routines. Lorikeets returned to nests, and gorillas moved toward their dens. This highlights how natural instincts are triggered during rare events like eclipses. ## Birds' Dawn Songs Data from the 2024 eclipse revealed many bird species singing dawn songs as sunlight returned. This behavior reflects instinctive responses to the sun's reappearance. Similarly, insects exhibited nighttime behaviors. ## Scientific Challenges Eclipses' rarity and unpredictability make research difficult. Gaps of hundreds of years between eclipses in the same location hinder experiment replication. Funding shortages also pose challenges for researchers. ## Community Involvement In 2024, hundreds of volunteers recorded animal behaviors during the eclipse. This participation boosted public interest in science and strengthened people's connection to nature. Eclipses offer a unique opportunity to bridge science and curiosity. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-animals-act-weirdly-during-a-solar-eclipse-or-do-we/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._