Skip the selfie safari. A tourist who attempted to snap a photo with an elephant was subsequently severely injured after being trampled and stripped — revealing his bare behind for all manner of beasts to bear witness. Authorities are calling it a reckless and dangerous stunt. The shocking incident, which occurred near a temple in … Read more
Four reactors at France’s Gravelines nuclear power plant, located along the English Channel, were temporarily shut down over the weekend after a swarm of jellyfish threatened to clog critical water intake systems. According to the plant’s operator, several of the facility’s production units went offline after jellyfish were detected in the filter drums of the … Read more
I’ve seen a rash of social media posts recommending the application of sticky-tape bands around tree trunks to prevent spotted lantern flies and other garden pests from accessing tree canopies and munching on foliage. But those bands also catch caterpillars, butterflies, bees and birds, which would be difficult to free without ripping off their limbs or breaking their … Read more
If you’ve ever stared deep into your pet’s eyes and wondered what they were thinking, a session with pet psychic Shira Plotzker may be the answer. “As a pet communicator, I’m able to talk to pets both living and those who have passed,” said Plotzker. “I’m able to help pet parents connect better with their … Read more
They’re making a big stink in Washington Heights. With pooch poop lining its streets and sidewalks, the neighborhood is the No.1 ZIP code with the most gripes about canine number-two’s in 2025, per new 311 complaint data. Repping ZIP code 10032 — but boasting zero dog-waste-bag dispensers — Washington Heights produced 160 of the more … Read more
A student was enjoying a sunset stroll on a beach in La Jolla, California, when she came across something very rare. Anya Stajner, a Ph.D. student at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, spotted a tiny, bright purple shell — and recognized its significance. Stajner identified the rare species of pelagic sea snail also known as Janthina. A Scripps … Read more
Marine rescue groups in Australia worked quickly to free a dolphin calf entangled in a fishing net, successfully reuniting the baby with its mother. Video from the Organization for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans showed the July 24 rescue as teams from the Sea World Foundation, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Marine … Read more
We ain’t lion. A restaurant is being slammed for offering guests the chance to snuggle with lion cubs as part of a $150 four-course meal. Wanhui restaurant in Northern China is being criticized by animal welfare advocates for its unique but unsafe attraction. Wanhui restaurant in Northern China is being slammed for offering guests the … Read more
Man’s best friend, indeed! As generative AI becomes more commonplace — people are asking the tool to do everything from creating grocery lists to writing love poems — so, too, do the ridiculous social media trends. Most recently, pet owners on TikTok looked to ChatGPT to strangely turn their dogs into humans. Survey results also … Read more
It gives new meaning to dog years. Various types of sled dogs have been used by humans across the Arctic for almost 10,000 years, but new research reveals one particular type to be the oldest continuously domesticated breed. According to a new study published in Science, Qimmit have been kept by Inuit populations in Greenland … Read more
Move over, fashion week — the hottest accessory of the season is a blade of grass shoved in your ear. Or, for the truly daring: your butt. Chimpanzees at a Zambian wildlife sanctuary are going viral — not for escaping or throwing poo, but for their bizarre behavior that’s as puzzling as it is cheeky. … Read more
No, this photo-bombing pachyderm is not an apparition, a phantasm or a spooky specter. He is the only African forest elephant to be spotted — via remote trail cam — in Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park in five long years. The “ghost” epithet can be applied to a range of endangered species, but ghost elephants in … Read more
Interest in chicken coops is up among Americans in search of a more affordable way to consume eggs. More people are searching for do-it-yourself chicken coops and purchasing from retailers frequently, according to recent reports and search trends. Research conducted by Australia-based real estate company Eden Emerald Buyers Agent found that searches for “easy DIY chicken coop … Read more
There were adorable – but heartbreaking – scenes when a scared and wet baby raccoon was found on a homeowner’s doorstep. Belchertown Animal Control Officer Sarah Byrnes was called to the Massachusetts property and found the youngster standing on two legs in fear after surviving a rainstorm the night before. A scared and wet baby … Read more
Llama just say — this probably wasn’t on your 2025 bingo card. A new study suggests that the long-necked, fuzzy mammals could be our secret weapon against COVID-19. Researchers in Belgium found that special particles in llama blood could help us develop powerful new treatments that keep working even as the virus mutates. While llamas … Read more
These influencers should be put in the doghouse. A disturbing new TikTok trend — where clueless owners dump buckets of ice water on their unsuspecting pups — is drawing widespread outrage from animal lovers, who are barking mad over what they call a “cruel” and “appalling” stunt. The so-called “#barkyourmindchallenge” is a twisted take on … Read more
Bears, wolves and deer — oh my! A Belgian zoo is offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share a room with mammals, birds and animals of all kinds. Deemed as “Europe’s best zoo,” Pairi Daiza is now allowing guests to fully experience wild animal life at all hours of the day. Imagine waking up alongside … Read more
A lynx in England could become the first UK zoo-born cat to be successfully released into the wild. The 9-month-old Eurasian lynx, who was born in the Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, has been moved to southwestern Germany’s Black Forest, which is an unusual move for animals born and raised in zoos. However, the request for its … Read more
On April 1, the Trump administration’s effort to slash government funding arrived in Morgantown, W.Va., where federal scientists spent their days studying health and safety threats to American workers. That morning, hundreds of employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were notified that they were being terminated and would lose access to … Read more
A bird lover has walked 53 miles dressed in a homemade costume to raise awareness for one of Great Britain’s most iconic and threatened birds. Matt Trevelyan, 46, walked the distance dressed as his favorite bird — the Eurasian Curlew — which is endangered in the United Kingdom. The DIY costume was 3 yards long … Read more