Could this cuddly-looking creature have caused the coronavirus pandemic? Three years after COVID-19 brought the world to its knees, the scientific community remains bitterly divided over the origins of the virus, despite the growing consensus that it was manufactured inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during gain-of-function research. But a new analysis of genetic material … Read more
A second pigeon wearing a tiny makeshift backpack presumably meant for smuggling drugs was found inside a British Columbia prison recently. The incident occurred nearly two months after another bird was found carrying crystal meth at a neighboring prison. Officers found a pigeon wearing a backpack possibly made out of cut-up jeans inside the Matsqui Institution … Read more
This unbelievable photo of an “Amazon snake cat” is just that — unbelievable. A photo of the so-called Serpens Catus, a feline with black and neon yellow stripes resembling a snake, went viral Tuesday in social media posts claiming it to be the “rarest species of feline on Earth.” “Serpens catus is the rarest species … Read more
This bald eagle will take its slice to go. Nature photographer Doug Gemmell captured the moment a juvenile bald eagle swooped into a parking lot at Wethersfield Cove in Connecticut and picked up a stray slice of pepperoni pizza. Gemmell shared four photos to Facebook, claiming that he waited for the bird to “get low” last … Read more
In the animal kingdom, wild tales of inebriation and altered states of consciousness are rampant. Dolphins get a buzz from the toxins in blowfish, reindeer “fly” on magic mushrooms, and monkeys, raccoons and possums love a stiff drink. Researchers now believe that apes — gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans — like to spin around on … Read more
Fans of “The Banshees of Inisherin” were excited to see what they assumed was Jenny the Donkey make a cameo at the 2023 Oscars, but you know what they say about assumptions… It turns out the donkey that host Jimmy Kimmel brought on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles was not the infamous … Read more
Kiska, known as the “world’s loneliest” orca, died Friday at Marineland in Ontario, Canada. Marineland confirmed the 47-year-old female whale’s death in a statement, saying, “Marineland’s marine mammal care team and experts did everything possible to support Kiska’s comfort and will mourn her loss.” Kiska, Canada’s last captive orca, spent the last 12 years in solitary … Read more
A massive whale that was once thought to be in distress was soon discovered to be suffering from a deformation of the spine. The 40-ton fin whale was spotted near Cullera beach last Saturday in Valencia, Spain, located about 200 miles southwest of Barcelona. Rescuers received a call from the skipper of a passing boat … Read more
Catfished? More like dogfished. One man, who goes by @infared_savage on TikTok, posted a video about his catfish experience with a puppy he alleges is actually a hyena. The video has gone viral with over 3.3 million views. Eager to purchase a pup, the man replied to an online post from a “Bully breeder” looking to sell … Read more
We smell a “Cocaine Bear” spinoff in the near future. Ohio authorities were flabbergasted to capture an escaped African wild cat that later tested positive for nose candy. The cocaine cat caper unfolded during a January traffic stop. The animal jumped out of the car and quickly climbed a tree, according to media reports. Hamilton … Read more
Kanga even believe it? A group of albino kangaroos caused a stir Monday after being spotted at the Panorama Wildlife Sanctuary and Secret Gardens, the nature preserve wrote on its Facebook page. The sanctuary, which is located on Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, captioned the ‘roo-ly strange occurrence simply as “the mob.” According to the sanctuary’s owner, … Read more
A San Manuel, Arizona, homeowner was in for a surprise when arriving home and finding a bobcat lounging in their dog’s bed. On Wednesday, the Arizona Game and Fish Department in Tucson posted images of the bobcat on Twitter. Both images showed the large cat lying comfortably on a pillow made for a dog, with a blanket nearby. … Read more
A Canadian woman who “loves Australia but thinks it’s weird” has revealed her latest gripe with the country. Amanda, who lives on the mid-north coast of NSW, often shares TikTok videos about her love/hate relationship with Australia. In one of her most recent clips, she explains the famous cackling sound of the kookaburra at the crack of … Read more
These chickens have some im-peck-able tricks. A group of athletic Australian chickens have locals flocking to watch their egg-citing moves — and one in particular has attracted attention for her weekly bodysurfing session. Owner Elaine Janes began taking her chicks to Point Lonsdale during the pandemic and has continued the routine for the past 18 … Read more
Sarah Lancestar was traveling throughout Central America when she was forced to abandon her holiday plans after a seemingly innocent act led to $60,000 worth of medical bills. The Tasmanian local was staying at a hostel in Nicaragua when she decided to play with the household cat. “It was pawing at me when it suddenly … Read more
The National Park Service advised parkgoers facing a bear attack not to “push a slower friend down,” prompting a humorous back-and-forth with social media users with jokes of their own. “If you come across a bear, never push a slower friend down… even if you feel the friendship has run its course,” the service tweeted on Tuesday. … Read more
He’s not a multi-tusker. A meandering — and masturbating — walrus named Thor has popped up in Iceland, two months after eagle-eyed Brits spotted him visiting the UK. Elís Pétur Elísson, who was supervising a fishing boat in the Breiddalsvik harbor, noticed Thor lounging on one of the floating docks Friday. Approaching him with caution, the … Read more
A Chinese pangolin who was born at the Prague Zoo made history as the first of its species to be born in Europe. The critically endangered animal in captivity, which was nicknamed “Little Cone” because it resembles a spruce cone, arrived on Feb. 2. The little one came right before World Pangolin Day, which was … Read more
Call it concerning carcinogen cartography. An alarming new map shows the global scope of certain cancer-causing forever chemicals, which may be harming over 330 species of animals worldwide. The unsettling analysis was published Wednesday by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Researchers pored over 100-plus recent peer-reviewed studies, which found these animals harbored 120 unique polyfluoroalkyl … Read more
Doggone it — dog flu cases are on the rise in some areas of the country, including Philadelphia, North Texas and Minneapolis, CBS News reports. Canine influenza is different from the influenza viruses that humans contract. It’s caused by two Type A viruses: H3N8 and H3N2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that … Read more