Amy King, BSc Microbiology and Physiology

You know those little glow-in-the-dark stars that dot the ceilings of children’s rooms? Yeah, I didn’t have stars. Instead, I had little glowing dolphins, starfish, and sharks “swimming” on my ceiling at night. As it turns out, my room wasn’t the only place where some of these fish glow in the dark. Introduction A team …

Don’t let their lanky appearance and beautiful, soft pink plumage fool you, flamingos are totally metal. They are extremophiles, meaning they can survive, and even thrive, in environments with extreme conditions.  Introduction  An environment is considered “extreme” when one or more environmental factor, such as temperature, salinity, radiation, or pressure, is on the far side …

On the 25th of June, 2024, a team of scientists from South Africa made history by inserting radioactive isotopes into the horns of rhinos in an effort to devalue rhino horn as a commodity. Here’s a deep dive into the project and the issue of rhino poaching.  Introduction Over the last decade, close to 10,000 …

By the looks of it, you wouldn’t have said this foal had been buried more than a few weeks, it was that perfectly preserved. However, the people who uncovered it were the first to lay eyes on this little body in approximately 46,000 years.  So what can we learn from this discovery, and what does …

A rescue operation was conducted in Laos, a southeast Asian country, to free a baby Asian elephant, barely a year old, from chains. But why was the elephant in chains? Introduction Unfortunately, thousands of Asian elephants are enslaved in the logging, entertainment, and tourism industries, made to work long days doing hard labor and whipped if …

Thrilling footage was captured at a watering hole in the Manyoni Game Reserve, South Africa. A buck, likely a nyala, used clever tactics to outsmart a lioness.  Introduction Everyone has to eat, and when an opportunity for a large meal presented itself at a watering hole, a lioness jumped at it, literally.  Not So Fast …

I don’t know about you, but when I pass some flowers I always stick my face in them and take a deep breath. Pleasant smells are attractive, and it seems humans aren’t alone in that opinion.  Introduction Have you ever seen a cat react to catnip? If not, I recommend checking this video article out …

If you’re from Texas you may have heard the story of Ol’ Rip, a lizard that was sealed in a time capsule for 30 years, but found alive when the capsule was opened.  That story is far from the only one about lizards or amphibians being found alive in seemingly impossible locations. But, before we …

Match the Animal to its Native Location Test your knowledge about the habitat ranges of various animals with this fun quiz! 1. Komodo dragon Madagascar Indonesia Australia Brazil 2. Kangaroo New Zealand South Africa Australia India 3. Lemur? Borneo Madagascar Galápagos Islands Sri Lanka 4. Giant panda China Nepal Japan Thailand 5. Galápagos tortoise Seychelles …

Reptiles, and particularly dinosaurs, ruled the Earth for millions of years before mammals came along. Still today, many reptile species exist – over 12,000 in fact. Here we look at some of these unique reptile species. Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) Native to New Zealand, these reptiles are the only surviving members of the order Rhynchocephalia, which …

This article is part two to First-Time Mother Tiger Learns To Care For Cubs. Growing Cubs When we left off, the new mother tiger was teaching her cubs how to survive in the wild.  Now the cubs are half-grown and developing their own personalities. However, they still stick together and need to learn more crucial …

More than 99% of all living species have gone extinct. Whole time periods are buried in layers of rock and sediment and, with it, libraries of information about Earth’s history and what came before us.  Let’s look at some artistic reconstructions of extinct animals and discuss what we know about their extinctions.  Giant Tree Kangaroo …

Cats are elegant, poised, and graceful. However, a pinch of catnip seems to make all of their distinguished “cattitude” vanish in seconds. Introduction From tabby cats to tigers, felines often go bonkers for catnip, shaking, licking, and rolling in it. But why do they do this?  Why Do Cats Roll Around in Catnip?  Perfume was …

Raising a child is no easy feat for anyone, including wild animals. This first-time mother tiger is documented in her first days navigating parenthood.  Background  The BBC Earth documentary, Tiger: Spy in the Jungle, narrated by David Attenborough, was filmed in the Indian jungle. In fact, nearly the entire thing was filmed by elephants! The …

The wildly popular Netflix show, Bridgerton, is currently airing its third season, and viewers are once again transported to a fictionalized early 19th century England. In the spirit of immersing ourselves in this captivating period, let’s explore the kinds of pets that the nobility of this era kept.  Background Around 26,000 years ago, humans first …

This kitty may resemble a typical housecat, but she’s actually a deadly wildcat found on the plains of the African savannah.  Introduction This black-footed cat is named Gyra, and she’s being tracked by researchers by means of a radio collar and night-vision cameras.  Despite her small size (1–2.5 kg or 2–5.5 lb), she is an …

Is this purradise? Imagine a place where there’s a cat around every corner, and they’re all friendly! City of Cats  Nicknamed “Catstanbul,” Istanbul in Turkey is home to a population of an estimated 100,000 to 1 million stray cats. In fact, one of the islands just off the coast of Istanbul, called Heybeliada, has been …

Parents often have to deal with their children misbehaving. Well, sometimes the child that’s misbehaving is your senior labrador, and nothing you do can stop him from realizing his dream of becoming a mermaid. Buster Henry Buster the labrador has gained a following of over 1 million on TikTok with his adorable but mischievous antics. …

To survive out in the wild, you must be able to improvise, adapt, and overcome! Many organisms have, thus, evolved to survive in ecologically niche environments that other species cannot tolerate. These organisms are called “extremophiles” and they push the boundaries of living and thriving on Earth.  Thermophiles Is it just me or is it …

In an Animals Around The Globe exclusive video from the Kruger National Park, a world renowned game reserve located in South Africa, a lion can be seen stalking a herd of buffalo. Lions are apex predators who are masters of stalking and stealth. Here, we discuss their hunting strategies, with reference to the exclusive footage.  …

For as long as dogs have been domesticated, that is, since around 26,000 years ago, they have been the companions and protectors of humans. As such, they’ve been serving in militaries and battalions for thousands of years.  Today, military dogs undergo rigorous training to hone their unique skills that make them valuable assets of the …

Read to the end to watch the video! The Latest Sighting A trail camera set up deep in the Huachuca Mountains near Tucson, Arizona, captured footage of a new, rare species of wild jaguar. Spotted on December 20th, 2023, the sighting of this beast has garnered great buzz among conservationists and scientists alike. Only the …

“The Boss” is a massive grizzly bear and inhabitant of Banff National Park who is notorious for having been hit by a train and survived. But why was he on the tracks in the first place?  Between 2008 and 2023, 63 bears were killed by trains on the BNSF Railway alone, which is the largest …

Background In 1932, the first-ever Academy Award for an animated feature was awarded to Flowers and Trees, a Technicolor®, hand-drawn cartoon produced by Walt Disney himself.  The animated short presents the story of a romance between two trees whose forest home is set ablaze  by a decaying stump. Ultimately, the fire is extinguished and the …

Notoriously aggressive, hippopotami are some of the deadliest land animals to humans, causing around 500 casualties annually. Most hippo-related attacks occur when people encroach upon their territory, whether by boat, canoe, bike, or foot. However, hippos don’t attack to eat because they are, in fact, herbivores.  Therefore, it is absolutely staggering to find out that …

Whether driven by morbid curiosity or in pursuit of offspring with desirable characteristics, humans have selectively bred hybrid species of plants and animals for centuries. Animals like dogs and horses have been bred by humans to enhance certain characteristics in offspring, including hunting ability, speed, and aesthetic. Of course, there have also been cases where …

Tigers are native to many parts of Asia, so what might they be doing roaming around the African savannah? Unfortunately, it’s not to try out the local cuisine (biltong, anyone?), but rather as part of an eclectic conservation approach.  Today, approximately 5,500 individual tigers remain in the wild.  Unfortunately, tiger conservation has not been made …

You’re walking through a familiar, wooded area. Your ears are pricked up, but there is nothing too worrisome to be heard, only some insects whirring and birds chirping. You sniff the remnants of a scent of a predator who passed through this area some time ago. Suddenly, and without your senses having picked up on …

It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing of Kelvin Kiptum, the reigning world record holder in the marathon. In honor of his memory, we’ve compiled a list of animals that could realistically race a marathon against Kelvin. Kelvin Kiptum At the Chicago Marathon on the 8th of October, 2023, Kelvin ran …

We’ve all seen insects swarm towards a source of light at night like, well, like a moth to a flame.  Notably, insects seem to only be attracted to artificial light sources. It’s not like they fly upwards towards the moon. No, instead they congregate at the light by your front door. Theories that have flown …

The Arabian leopard is a critically endangered big cat with an estimated population number of fewer than 200 individuals. These majestic beasts inhabit Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen.  Background Dr Khalid Al Hikman is a researcher and guide based in Oman. He has dedicated his research to the ecology and conservation of these Arabian leopard.  …

Game rangers hold a very unique set of skills, including tracking, survival, and weapon handling. Their deep understanding of wildlife is imperative in maintaining the conservation efforts of game reserves. The Leopard Kill In the video above, Mphilo Mhlanga shows Animals Around The Globe’s own Chris Weber a dead gazelle on a branch high up …

As seen during a livestream, Big Bear’s beloved Bald Eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, have laid two eggs, coinciding with the approach of National Freedom Day on February 1st. The first egg was laid on January 25th, 2024, and the second on the 28th.  Jackie and Shadow have become local celebrities, with their activities and …

The first complex animals to have ever existed arose during the Ediacaran period (635–540 million years ago). Before then, less complex and single-celled organisms, like sponges and cyanobacteria, populated the Earth.  Fossils found during an archaeological study in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in the 1970s have recently been dated to 564 million years old. These are some …

It’s more than just the plot of Jurassic Park. The once unthinkable concept of bringing extinct animal species back to life is close to being realized. But what does de-extinction entail? And what would it mean for Earth as we know it?  What is De-Extinction? De-extinction is the science behind bringing extinct species back to …

Ever “caught” a yawn after someone nearby yawned? As it turns out, humans aren’t the only animals that are contagious to yawning. Not only do animals yawn, many animal species, and interestingly mostly social species, are susceptible to contagious yawning.  There’s even a good chance that you’ll catch a yawn while reading this article!  But …