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Animals in Culture

A collection of 44 issues

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.

Animals in Culture History Wars, Conflict & Heroes

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.

Entertainment & Media Animals in Culture History

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.

Literature & Books Animals in Culture History

'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.

Wars, Conflict & Heroes History Animals in Culture

From Pest to Pub Star: Unpacking Australia's Weirdest Sport, Cane Toad Racing

In Australia, the reviled cane toad, a toxic invasive pest, is the star of a quirky pub sport: cane toad racing. This bizarre tradition, especially popular on Australia Day, transforms an ecological disaster into a unique and controversial cultural spectacle.

Animals in Culture Science & Nature Geography & Places

Meet the Epaulette Shark: The Astonishing Apex Predator That Walks on Land

Meet the Epaulette shark, a unique Australian predator. This small reef dweller can walk on land using its fins to hop between tide pools and can survive for hours with little to no oxygen by shutting down parts of its brain. It's a true marvel of evolution and adaptability.

Science & Nature Animals in Culture

Vultures Over the Seven Hills: The Bloody Augury That Founded Rome

Rome's legendary founding began with fratricide. When brothers Romulus and Remus sought divine guidance through augury—interpreting bird behavior—to choose a location, a dispute over vulture sightings ended with Romulus killing Remus and establishing the city that would bear his name.

History Religion & Philosophy Animals in Culture

The Unsung Canine Chef: Remembering the Turnspit, the Dog That Cooked Dinner and Was Erased by Technology

Meet the Turnspit, an extinct dog breed bred for one purpose: to run in a wheel, powering a rotating spit to cook meat. Once a common kitchen appliance, this hardworking canine was sadly rendered obsolete by machinery, a poignant tale of a living engine forgotten by time.

History Animals in Culture Technology & Innovation

The Friendly Wolf That Swam to its Doom: A Tragic Tale of Trust and Extinction

The Falkland Islands wolf, or warrah, was the islands' only native land mammal. Its remarkable tameness towards humans, often swimming out to greet ships, made it an easy target for settlers who hunted it to extinction in 1876, a tragic end for a unique creature.

Science & Nature History Animals in Culture

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