Total solar eclipses also appear to affect animal behavior, causing unusual reactions due to the sudden darkening of the sky and the change in temperature. During the 2017 eclipse in the US, researchers monitored 17 animal species and noted 13 different changes in their behavior.
One of the most unusual cases was observed in Galapagos tortoises, which are usually quiet during the day, but began to mate as soon as the sky darkened. Giraffes showed signs of alarm and began running erratically, while gorillas huddled together, as if preparing for a night’s rest. Some monkeys also made unusual sounds as darkness fell.
Reactions were also observed in birds, with some species starting to sing as if dawn had arrived, while others stopped singing and resumed after the light returned. However, the researchers emphasize that these changes are mostly temporary and the animals usually return to normal behavior a few minutes after the eclipse ends. Some of the observations, however, still remain at the level of anecdotal evidence and require further study.