Quebec zoo examined animal behaviour during last week's total solar eclipse
CTV
A Quebec zoo took advantage of last Monday's total solar eclipse to study the behaviours of some of its animals. The zoo's research and conservation department was approached by an astrophysics professor from the Université du Québec à Montréal about taking part in an animal behaviour study and collecting data on how they reacted during the rare phenomenon.
As darkness settled during last week's total solar eclipse, Japanese macaques turned their backs to the sun and red crowned cranes went uncharacteristically quiet.
But the Himalayan black bears just slept as if nothing was happening.
A Quebec zoo took advantage of last Monday's total solar eclipse to study the behaviours of some of its animals. The zoo's research and conservation department was approached by an astrophysics professor from the Université du Québec à Montréal about taking part in an animal behaviour study and collecting data on how they reacted during the rare phenomenon.
Granby Zoo is located in the province's Estrie region, which had among the best views of rare total solar eclipse in southern Quebec. While humans were enthralled, few studies have been carried out on animal reactions during the rare event.
Chelsey Paquette, conservation coordinator at Granby Zoo, about 65 kilometres east of Montreal, said the zoo jumped at the chance to be involved. A study will be published to present the findings.
"What we can take from it is that definitely luminosity does have an effect on animals and whatever data we find, the conclusions we can take from the species at the zoo can probably be extrapolated to wildlife species as well," Paquette said.
"It's a rare event, so to collect data during a rare event to better understand how luminosity in the presence of the sun can influence animals is quite unique."
