Decoding process of animal behavior implying mudflow events in Phrae, Uttaradit and Sukhotai provinces

Abstract

     The objective of this research was to study the decoding process of animal behavior that implied mudflow events in Phrae, Uttaradit, and Sukhothai provinces, Thailand. The results could be used as a tool for predicting and understanding natural incidents related to mudflow events. The results of this study found that there are three significant steps in the animal behavior process regarding signs of mudflow events. Step 1 involved identifying animal behavior from a mudflow event and consisted of: 1) searching for groups of people who can provide the information, eyewitnesses, and experts on animal behavior; and 2) searching for animal behavior prior to a mudflow. Step 2 involved studying the biology and ecology of selected animals and their behavior before mudflow events which consisted of: 1) interviewing specialists on animal behavior with regard to mudflow events; and 2) reviewing the related animal behavior and mud flow event documentation. Step 3 involved synthesizing animal behavior which indicates the characteristics of animal biology and ecology in the context of mudflow events. From these three steps in the mudflow decoding process, six signs of animal behavior prior to a mudflow were identified based on eyewitness accounts: 1) enormous populations of frogs [Hoplobatrachus rugulosus], small green frogs [Microhyla pulchrals molossus], and bull frogs [Occidozga limas]; 2) large numbers of Enhydris enhydris found on roads; 3) unusually large numbers of centipedes; 4) land crabs were found out of their burrows in the day-time at long distances from watercourses; 5) termites were found during the day on higher land; and 6) large numbers of wild fowl. This decoding process showed the consistency of the three sources of data—local knowledgeable people, specialists on animal behavior, and scientific knowledge.