FOXSYLVANIA

 – – While Washington’s humans continued to yammer into their cell phones prior to the August 23rd earthquake, those of the furry persuasion at the National Zoo may have known what was coming.  Zoo staff reported that before the 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit, lemurs were seen to have sounded an alarm, apes abandoned their food, flamingos rushed into a huddle, and a gorilla let out a shriek.  Even ducks and beavers interrupted feeding and other activities to jump into  water.  The zoo’s giant pandas, however, did not appear to respond to the earthquake.

Similar agitated behaviors have long been reported from captive animal populations prior to earthquakes elsewhere…