Mumbai, July 30: Did animals sense the devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Kamchatka, Russia? A viral claim suggests so. Several social media users are sharing a video claiming that five beluga whales washed ashore in Kamchatka a day before the earthquake, hinting at animals’ ability to predict natural disasters.

One post even claimed, "THE ANIMALS WARNED US – AND WE DIDN’T LISTEN," linking the whales’ stranding directly to the earthquake epicentre. The video, shared by accounts like Nature is Amazing and @HustleBitch_, implied that the whales’ behaviour was a natural premonition of the seismic disaster. However, these claims have sparked scepticism and prompted fact-checking to verify the true context behind the video. Fact Check: Was ‘Dog Babu’ Residential Certificate Submitted to ECI During SIR Exercise in Bihar? Election Commission Debunks Fake Claims, Says No Voter Gave Such Document.

Beluga Whale Video from 2023 Misrepresented as Earthquake Prediction in Russia

Viral Post Claiming Belugas Predicted Russia Quake Goes Viral

Old Whale Rescue Video Resurfaces with False Earthquake Claim (Photo Credits: X/ @NoContextHumans)

Old Video of Beluga Whale Rescue in Kamchatka

A Community Note on the viral post revealed the video is old and unrelated to the earthquake on July 30. In reality, the video dates back to August 15, 2023, when five beluga whales, four adults and a calf, were stranded near the mouth of the Tigil River in Russia's Far East. Local fishermen rescued the trapped whales by keeping them cool with seawater and feeding them fish until the tide rose, allowing the mammals to swim back safely. Notably, Beluga whales are large, weighing up to 3,500 pounds, making physical relocation difficult. Bunnies Jumping on Trampoline, Real or AI-Generated? Here’s Truth About Viral TikTok Video ‘Capturing’ Rabbits, Deer, Bear and Other Animals Hoping on Trampoline by Night Camera.

Their unique biology includes a thick blubber layer for cold protection and a melon used for echolocation, helping them navigate icy waters. In conclusion, the video of belugas washing ashore is unrelated to the July 30, 2025, earthquake. It is an old video being circulated with a false context. While animals are sometimes sensitive to environmental changes, there is no scientific evidence supporting that these belugas were signalling an impending quake.

Fact check

Did Animals Predict Earthquake in Russia? Fact Check Debunks Viral Claim That 5 Beluga Whales Washed Ashore Before Kamchatka Quake; Old Video Shared With False Context
Claim :

Five beluga whales washed ashore in Kamchatka just before the recent 8.8-magnitude earthquake, warning of the disaster.

Conclusion :

The video is from August 2023 and unrelated to the earthquake.

Full of Trash
Clean

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2025 02:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).