Snakes used to sense earthquakes in China

Nanning - China has come up with an earthquake prediction system which relies on the behaviour of snakes, two days after two quakes struck off neighbouring Taiwan.

The earthquake bureau in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi autonomous region in southern China, has developed its system using a combination of natural instinct and modern technology, the China Daily newspaper says.

Experts at the bureau monitor snakes at local snake farms via video cameras linked to a broadband Internet connection.

The video feed runs 24 hours per day.

"Of all the creatures on Earth, snakes are perhaps the most sensitive to earthquakes," bureau director Jiang Weisong said.

Mr Jiang says snakes, which are a popular restaurant dish in the south in the winter, could sense an earthquake from 120 kilometres away, three to five days before it happens. They respond by behaving "strangely".  -- Reuters

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