# Total solar eclipse changed behaviour of 13 animal species 2026-08-12T19:04:20+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet During the 2017 total solar eclipse, researchers at Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina observed 17 species and found that 13 displayed behavioural changes. Published in the National Library of Medicine, the study compared animal activity during the eclipse with baseline observations from the same afternoon hours on previous days. Gorillas, elephants, and a Komodo dragon moved toward their night-time shelters. Galápagos tortoises began mating, and giraffes ran together. A nocturnal tawny frogmouth became active during totality, while four species including grizzly bears showed no clear reaction. The researchers concluded that the sudden drop in light, not a universal 'eclipse response', triggered varied behaviours. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: animal behaviour, eclipse 2017, total solar eclipse, wildlife research, zoo study Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/total-solar-eclipse-changed-behaviour-of-13-animal-species/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/total-solar-eclipse-changed-behaviour-of-13-animal-species/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.