Amy King, BSc Microbiology and Physiology

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 …

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 …

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? 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 non-compliant.  …

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 …