Topic

Animals in Culture

A collection of 40 issues

The Shark's Secret 'Off-Switch': How Tonic Immobility Is Changing Our View of the Ocean's Apex Predator

Sharks possess a surprising 'off-switch.' Gently flipping them upside down induces a natural, trance-like state of paralysis called tonic immobility. This reflex allows scientists to study and help these apex predators safely, without causing them harm or stress.

Sombra: The Colombian K-9 So Feared by Cartels They Put a $70,000 Bounty on Her Head

Sombra, a heroic German Shepherd, became a top target for Colombia's most powerful cartel after sniffing out over 9 tons of cocaine. The Gulf Clan placed a $70,000 bounty on her head, forcing police to relocate her with bodyguards for her own protection.

Mother Carey's Chickens: The Ghostly Birds and the Sea Witch Who Claimed Drowned Sailors' Souls

Mother Carey, a feared sea witch in 18th-century folklore, personified the cruel ocean. Her storm petrels, known as "Mother Carey's chickens," were believed to be the souls of drowned sailors, warning of her wrathful storms. Her name, from Latin "Mater Cara," is a grimly ironic title.

When the RAF Airdropped Cats into Borneo: The Bizarre True Story of Operation Cat Drop

In the 1950s, the WHO used DDT in Borneo to fight malaria. This inadvertently killed local cats via biomagnification, leading to a rat plague that destroyed crops. The solution was Operation Cat Drop, where cats were parachuted into villages to restore ecological balance.

Flopped or Terrified? The Unseen Truth About Tonic Immobility in Rabbits

The common practice of 'trancing' a rabbit by placing it on its back induces a state of tonic immobility. Far from being relaxed, the rabbit is experiencing a fear-based, involuntary paralysis—a last-resort defense mechanism that causes significant physiological and psychological stress.

The Dragonfly's Perilous Gamble: A 2,000 km Migration Across the Indian Ocean

A study reveals the incredible 2,000 km migration of the Globe Skimmer dragonfly across the Indian Ocean from India to Africa. Relying on seasonal winds, these tiny insects face a perilous journey where only 15-40% are estimated to survive, making it the longest known insect migration.

Lizzie the War Elephant: The Surprising Circus Hero of WW1 Sheffield

During WW1, with horses requisitioned for the front lines, a circus elephant named Lizzie stepped up in Sheffield. She heroically hauled munitions and scrap metal for the war effort, famously doing the work of three horses and becoming a beloved local figure.

From TV Star to Florida Retiree: The Unbelievable Survival of J. Fred Muggs

J. Fred Muggs, the chimpanzee who saved NBC's Today Show in the 1950s, is not just a footnote in TV history. He is, incredibly, still alive. Now in his 70s, he lives a quiet life of retirement in Citrus Park, Florida, having outlived nearly all of his human co-stars.

Before Moby Dick, There Was Mocha Dick: The True Story of the Legendary White Whale

Herman Melville's Moby Dick wasn't pure fiction. It was inspired by Mocha Dick, a real, colossal white sperm whale who battled whalers off Chile in the early 19th century. This legendary creature was a terror and a marvel, a symbol of nature's untamable power.

'They Had No Choice': The Story of London's Powerful Animals in War Memorial

London's Animals in War Memorial honors the millions of animals who served and died in human conflicts. Its most powerful inscription, 'They had no choice,' serves as a solemn reminder of their silent, involuntary sacrifice and the true, far-reaching cost of war.