Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Lightning safety of animals

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper addresses a concurrent multidisciplinary problem: animal safety against lightning hazards. In regions where lightning is prevalent, either seasonally or throughout the year, a considerable number of wild, captive and tame animals are injured due to lightning generated effects. The paper discusses all possible injury mechanisms, focusing mainly on animals with commercial value. A large number of cases from several countries have been analyzed. Economically and practically viable engineering solutions are proposed to address the issues related to the lightning threats discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, books and news in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Anderson RB, Eriksson AJ (1980) Lightning parameters for engineering application. CIGRE Electra 69:65–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews CJ (1992) Telephone-related lightning injury. Med J Austr 157:823–826

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews CJ, Darvaniza M (1989) Telephone-mediated lightning injury: an Australian survey. J Trauma 29(5):665–671

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Appel G (1991) Deaths in swine by a lightning strike in the sty. Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrift 8:187–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedenice D, Hoffman AM, Parrott B, McDonnel J (2001) Vestibular signs associated with suspected lightning strike in two horses. Vet Rec 149(17):519–522

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berger G (2007) Lightning-caused accidents and injuries to human, IX International Symposium on Lightning Protection. Fos Do Iguaco, Brazil

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger K, Anderson RB, Kröninger H (1975) Parameters of lightning flashes. CIGRE Electra 41:23–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Best RH (1967) Lightning stroke in swine. Can Vet J 8(1):23–24

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boeve MH, Huijben R, Grinwis G, Djajadiningrat-Laanen SC (2004) Visual impairment after suspected lightning strike in a herd of Holstein-Friesian cattle. Vet Rec 154:402–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brightwell AH (1968) Lightning stroke in livestock. Can Vet J 9:186–188

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper MA (1980) Lightning injuries: prognostic signs for death. Ann Emerg Med 9(3):134–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooray V (2003) The lightning flash. IET, London, UK

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cooray V, Cooray C, Andrews CJ (2007) Lightning caused injuries in humans. J Electrost 65:386–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coorper CJ, Darvaniza M, Mackerras D (1989) Lightning injury: a review of clinical aspects, pathophysiology and treatment. Adv Trauma 4:241–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Carte AE, Anderson RB, Cooper MA (2002) A large group of children struck by lightning. Ann Emerg Med 39(6):665–670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duclos PJ, Sanderson LM (1990) An epidemiological description of lightning-related deaths in the United States. Int J Epidemiol 19:673–679

    Google Scholar 

  • Elsom DM (2000) Deaths and injuries caused by lightning in the United Kingdom: analysis of two databases. Atmos Res 56:325–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epperly TD, Stewart JR (1989) The physical effects of lightning injury. J Fam Pract 29:267–272

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson AJ, Smith MA (1986) A study of lightning fatalities and related incidents in Southern Africa. Trans SA Inst Elec Eng 163–178

  • Fahmy FS, Brinsden M, Smith J, Frame JD (1999) Lightning: multisystem group injuries. J Trauma 46(5):937–940

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gomes C, Kadir MZAAb (2011) A theoretical approach to estimate the annual lightning hazards on human beings. Atmos Res 101:719–725. doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.04.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomes C, Ahmed M, Abeysinghe K R, Hussain F (2006) Lightning accidents and awareness in South Asia: experience in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), Kanasawa, Japan

  • Heidler F, Diendorfer G, Zischank W (2004) Examples of severe destruction of trees caused by lightning, 27th International Conference on Lightning Protection, Avignon, France, 8a.3

  • IEC 62305-3 Ed. 1.0 (2006) Protection against lightning—part 3: physical damage to structures and life hazard. International Electrotechnical Commission

  • Ishikawa T, Ohashi M, Kitagawa N, Nagai Y, Miyazawa T (1985) Experimental study on the lethal-threshold value of multiple successive voltage impulses to rabbits simulating multi-strike lightning flash. Inst J Biometeorol 29(2):157–168

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karobath H, Redtenbacher M, Hofecker G, Walde I, Syré G (1977) Causes of death in lightning strokes (originally in German). MMW Munch Med Wochenschr 119(1):29–32

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kitagawa N, Kinoshita K, Ishikawa T (1972) Discharge experiment using dummies and rabbits simulating lightning strokes on human bodies. Int J Biometeor 17:239–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackerras D (1992) Occurrence of lightning death and injury. In: Andrews et al (eds) Lightning injuries: electrical, medical, and legal aspects. CRC Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Muehlberger PM, Vogt AMM (2001) The long-term consequences of lightning injuries. Burns 27:829–833

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagai N, Ishikawa T, Ohashi M, Kitagawa N (1982) Study of lethal effects of multiple-stroke flash. Res Lett Atmos Electr 2:87–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman ME, Albertson D, Younge BR (2001) Ophthalmic manifestations of lightning stroke. Surv Ophthalmol 46(1):19–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohashi M, Hosomi Y, Fujishiro Y, Muto T (1978) Threshold value of lethal energy of electric discharge to rats. J Toden Hosp 8:71–79 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohashi M, Hosomi Y, Fujishiro Y (1981a) Lethal threshold energy of artificial lightning applied on rats: comparison of lethal energy of rats and rabbits. J Toden Hosp 10–11:41–50 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohashi M, Hosomi Y, Fujishiro Y, Ishikawa T, Miyazawa T, Kitagawa N, Tsurumi S, Kinoshita K, Nagai Y, Takagi K (1981b) Experimental studies of resuscitation for rabbit after artificial lightning discharge. J Toden Hosp 10–11:51–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Toepler M (1906) Information on the law of guiding spark formation. Annalen der Physik 21(12):193–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Alstine WG, Widmer WR (2003) Lightning injury in an outdoor swine herd. J Vet Diagn Invest 15:289–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb J, Srinivasan J, Fahmy F, Frame JD (1996) Unusual skin injury from lightning. Lancet 347:321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams MA (2000) Lightning strike in horses. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 22:860–866

    Google Scholar 

  • Žele D, Bidovec A, Vengušt G (2006) Atmospheric flash injuries in roe deer (capreolus capreolus). Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 54(1):43–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann C, Coorper MA, Holle RL (2002) Lightning safety guidelines. Ann Emerg Med 39(6):660–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors thankfully acknowledge the invaluable information and materials provided by Mr. Randy Lantz, Ms. Jennifer Niemeyer and Prof. Diana Žele. The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia is greatly acknowledged for providing all required facilities to complete this study successfully.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Centre of Excellence on Lightning Protection (CELP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Chandima Gomes

Authors
  1. Chandima Gomes
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chandima Gomes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gomes, C. Lightning safety of animals. Int J Biometeorol 56, 1011–1023 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-011-0515-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-011-0515-5

Keywords

Profiles

  1. Chandima Gomes View author profile