Animals at a Texas zoo exhibited "erratic" reactions during the total solar eclipse. <br /><br />Videos released by the San Antonio Zoo shows the animals' unusual behaviour as the eclipse hit on Tuesday. <br /><br />Meerkats were seen running "erratically" through their cage while whooping cranes performed mating dances and flamingos bunched up together in a group.<br /><br />The San Antonio Zoo said on the animals' behaviours: "Meerkats are highly social animals that stick together in groups called mobs, aiding in defense, foraging, and predator protection. <br /><br />"Whooping cranes are renowned for their intricate dancing displays, often observed during courtship rituals to strengthen bonds and signal readiness for mating. <br /><br />"This mesmerizing behavior serves as a form of communication between male and female cranes, enhancing their relationship and social cohesion.<br /><br />"Flamingos form tight-knit social groups, known as colonies or flocks, where they bunch up together for various reasons. <br /><br />"This clustering gives them a sense of safety in numbers, acting as a defense mechanism against predators by making it harder for threats to single out individual birds."<br /><br />The zoo explained that some of those behaviours may be coincidental, but proved to be interesting scientifically.<br /><br />The San Antonio Zoo added: "While it’s possible some of this behavior may have been coincidental, this certainly caused a difference in the typical day for all of us.<br /><br />"Meerkats approaching and entering their indoor habitat space a few minutes before totality, which supported our working hypothesis that diurnal animals, meaning those awake during the day, would display their typical evening activity patterns during totality [of the eclipse]."
