Zoomarine Algarve takes part in Iberian study on animal behaviour during solar eclipse
Zoomarine Algarve took part in a study promoted by the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AIZA) to document the behaviour of different animal species during the solar eclipse on 12 August. The initiative involved 13 zoos and aquariums across the Iberian Peninsula and enabled the coordinated collection of audiovisual records of animals’ responses to changes in light conditions.
Conducted simultaneously at 12 Spanish zoos and aquariums and at Zoomarine, the only Portuguese park to take part in the initiative, the project used cameras and recording systems to monitor different species before, during and after the eclipse.
The initiative aims to contribute to a broader understanding of how animals respond to environmental changes associated with phenomena of this nature, while also reinforcing the role of zoos and aquariums as spaces for observation, research and knowledge generation about animal behaviour.
Different responses across species and locations
The first records collected by AIZA show that there was no uniform response to the eclipse. While several species maintained their usual behaviours, others displayed occasional changes in activity levels, alertness, exploratory behaviour, grouping patterns or routines normally associated with other times of the daily cycle.
At Zoomarine, where the eclipse was partial and occurred very close to sunset, no significant behavioural changes were recorded in most of the animals observed. The sea lions remained asleep, while the birds maintained activity levels comparable to those observed on previous days. Among the observations, the behaviour of the butterflies stood out, as their activity gradually decreased, with the animals remaining motionless on the leaves during the eclipse.
The absence of significant changes is also relevant information within the context of the study, allowing comparisons to be made between species, locations and different levels of intensity of the phenomenon.
Overall, approximately 50% of the species observed at the participating centres displayed changes or occasional responses coinciding with the decrease in light levels. No significant changes from their usual behaviour were recorded in the remaining species.
A project with continuity
The observations carried out during the eclipse on 12 August will also provide a basis for continuing the project during the next major eclipses visible from the Iberian Peninsula. The work is expected to continue during the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027 and the annular solar eclipse on 26 January 2028, allowing the collection of further records and a deeper understanding of animal behaviour under the different conditions associated with these phenomena.
In addition to Zoomarine, the initiative involved Zoo de Santillana del Mar, Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno, Lacuniacha, Río Safari Elche, Oceanogràfic de Valencia, Terra Natura Benidorm, Bioparc Fuengirola, Sendaviva, Tierra Rapaz, Faunia, Zoo Aquarium de Madrid and Acuario de Zaragoza.
Audiovisual records document the observations
AIZA has made available a compilation of footage captured by cameras installed at the participating zoos and aquariums, documenting both the responses observed during the eclipse and situations in which no changes in animal behaviour were recorded.
