Category: Animals & Nature

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Feral Hogs Destroyed Thousands of Dollars Worth of Cocaine in the Italian Forest

In very strange news, a bunch of feral hogs destroyed $22,000 worth of cocaine in the forest in Italy.

The cocaine had been stashed in the woods by a local gang, consisting of three Albanians and an Italian. Police discovered the operation by wiretapping members of the gang. That’s where they heard someone complaining about the havoc wreaked by the wild hogs.

Officials don’t know exactly how many boars were involved, but they allegedly dug up the package and destroyed it, dispersing it throughout the woods.

In the end, the men lost much more than thousands of dollars worth of cocaine. Thanks to the bust, four suspects were arrested on drug charges. Two of them are now in jail, and two are under house arrest.

Meanwhile, on Twitter, the story is reminding users of the viral “30-50 feral hogs” tweet from August.

“So that’s where the 30-50 feral hogs got off to,” one user remarked.

“It’s the coke that makes them impervious to AR-15 fire,” another added.

Others joked that “this is what they’re up to when they’re not rushing that one dude’s son.” Or, it could be the cocaine that causes the daily attacks.

On a serious note, feral hogs are a major problem in Italy (as well as many places around the world). Farmers recently protested in Rome, calling for the government to control the population. There are about two million wild boars in Italy, and they can cause land damage and road accidents.

But they are also very tasty, so…don’t get rid of all of them.

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Millions of Americans Think Chocolate Milk Comes From Brown Cows

I’ve never thought about the fact that people over the age of 5 might think strawberry, chocolate, and regular milks come from different color cows, but, I mean, if no one ever told you differently…I suppose it could still make sense?

Aside from the fact that you’ve never actually seen a pink cow.

Then again, I live in the middle of the country, where cows appear regularly on the side of the road. So maybe I should give coastal city folk a break?

 

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NAH – this is ridiculous.

It turns out that A LOT of adults believe that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. How many, you ask?

Well, according to the Innovation Center for US Dairy’s website, around 16.4 million people across the country.

They know this because they commissioned a survey to see, which found that 7% of respondents think brown cows equal chocolate milk.

Yep, right out of the udder.

This despite the fact that their official statement (and common sense) says, “Chocolate milk – or any flavored milk for that matter – is white cow’s milk with added flavoring and sweeteners.”

And get this: 48% of respondents – which would mean over 154 million people nationally, if the survey statistics were extrapolated to the country as a whole – admitted they aren’t sure where chocolate milk comes from. As in, maybe it comes from a brown cow? Who knows??

A few more fun facts that emerged from the same survey:

37% of Americans admit to drinking milk straight out of the carton in the fridge (YIKES).

And 29% of Americans buy chocolate milk “for the kids,” but really they just want an excuse to drink it themselves.

As far as the latter, I hope by the time their kids move out they can own what they like and drink it all day like a m-fing adult (who may not know where it comes from). Because chocolate milk, brown cow or no, is delicious.

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Kenya Installed First Solar Power Plant That Transforms Ocean Water into Drinking Water

A lot of us, as Americans, take clean water for granted. It’s just something that’s part of our everyday routine, whether we need to grab a drink from the faucet, to wash the dishes, or to take a shower – water is always (mostly) there for us.

But that’s not the case in certain parts of the world.

Roughly 2.2 billion people around the globe don’t have access to clean drinking water, but an organization called GivePower is looking to change that. The nonprofit recently installed a solar-powered plant in Kenya that turns salty ocean water into fresh drinking water, benefiting 25,000 people per day.

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After being constructed in 1 week, the 6kW solar microgrid began serving power to 40 homes and businesses 💡 #GivePowerInNepal⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #GivePower⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #JoinTheCharge ⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ #actnow #takeaction #active #building #buildingthefuture #buildingabetterfuture #workforchange #agentsofchange #bethechange #bigsteps #solarpanel #solarmicrogrids #solarenergy #solaristheanswer #solaristhefuture #future #futuregenerations ⠀

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The plant was built in the small town Kiunga, Kenya because of the lack of clean drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa. Turning saltwater into drinking water is both expensive and energy-intensive, which is why GivePower decided to build the plant using solar panels that harvest energy. The two water pumps at the solar-powered plant provide clean drinking water to residents 24 hours a day.

Before the plant was built, people in Kiunga had to travel more than an hour to get clean drinking water. And bathing and washing clothing in saltwater is harsh on skin and fabrics, so access to clean water helps the people in that way, too.

Because of the success of the plant in Kenya, GivePower wants to use this technology to help out people around the world. The organization is already planning projects in Colombia and Haiti. If you want to help out this great cause and donate, you can do that HERE.

Great work!

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This Dog Is in Charge of Finding Koalas That Have Survived Australia’s Bushfires

It’s devastating to watch scenes of scorched, singed, and confused koala bears as the bushfires continue to rage throughout Australia. The fires have destroyed land and homes in New South Wales and Queensland but have also tragically taken a huge toll on the koala population in the country.

Because koala habitat is being destroyed in such huge acreage in the blazes, teams are venturing into the burned areas to try to find and rescue koala bears.

One of the most important team members in these searches is a dog – who we can genuinely call a hero – named Bear.

Posted by Queensland Koala Crusaders on Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Bear is a koala detection dog who has been dispatched to Queensland to help find unfortunate little creatures that have been affected by the fires.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare said on its Facebook page,

“Our koala detection dog Bear is bringing a glimmer of hope for koalas suffering from Australia’s deadly bushfires—but these animals need more heroes to save them from this ongoing disaster. Our koala detection dog Bear is an integral part of these rescue efforts. He was recently deployed to southeast Queensland and one of the hardest-hit areas of New South Wales where the bushfires decimated local koala populations. Bear is one of the few detection dogs who can locate live koalas through the scent of their fur.”

Bear is now 6 years old, and he’s obviously found his calling in life.

You can help out by donating to this nonprofit fundraiser HERE.

Sadly, it seems that, in New South Wales at least, some koala populations are being pushed to the brink of extinction due to the fires.

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Lil Bub, the Cat That Became an Internet Sensation, Has Died

In some very sad news, Internet-famous cat Lil Bub has passed away at the age of 8. The adorable cat with the goofy face had 2.4 million followers on Instagram and was a social media star.

Lil Bub’s owner, Mike Bridavsky, said on social media, “On the morning of Sunday, December 1st 2019 we lost the purest, kindest and most magical living force on our planet,”

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This is my first photo with BUB next our last photo together. On the morning of Sunday, December 1st 2019 we lost the purest, kindest and most magical living force on our planet. BUB was cheerful and full of love laying in our bed with us Saturday night, but unexpectedly passed away peacefully in her sleep.. I have always been fully transparent about BUB's health, and it was no secret that she was battling a persistent and aggressive bone infection. Even knowing this, we weren't expecting her to pass so soon or so abruptly without warning. I truly believe that she willingly made the decision to leave her failing body so that our family would not have to make that difficult decision ourselves. It is impossible to put into words the profound effect that BUB has had on my life, on the lives of thousands of homeless pets, and on the lives of those of you that have cared for her as if she were your own family. She taught me everything that I know about unconditional love, she brought my wife Stacy and I together, she's the reason we have our beautiful children Rosco and Lula, and she has been a constant source of warmth and love in our lives for the past 8 years. To say that our family is devastated would be an understatement. But most importantly, BUB has made a huge difference in the world of animal welfare, and in the lives of millions of people worldwide. She has literally saved thousands of lives (both pets and humans), she started the first national fund for special needs pets, she was the subject of groundbreaking genetic and biological research, she's helped raise over $700,000 for animals in need, and has spread a message of determination, positivity, and perseverance to people all over the world. And even though my heart is absolutely crushed by her graceful departure from planet Earth, I know that her sprit, magic, and overwhelming energy are still with us, reminding us every day to be better. Dearest BUB, I will never forget your generosity, your limitless supply of love, or your uncanny ability to bring so much magic and joy to the world. I am forever honored and humbled that you chose me as your caretaker. Please visit all of us in our dreams o

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Lil Bub rose to prominence in 2011 when Bridavsky posted a photo of the cat on Tumblr.

https://bublog.tumblr.com/post/12524777484/sup-bub

Lil Bub became a sensation due to her appearance, which was the result of several genetic deformities. The little kitty had medical problems throughout her life and became the first cat ever diagnosed with osteopetrosis when she was only a year old. Even though Lil Bub had so many health issues, Bridavsky said that her death was a shock, and the day before she passed away she was “cheerful and full of love laying in our bed with us but unexpectedly passed away peacefully in her sleep.”

He added, “I have always been fully transparent about BUB’s health, and it was no secret that she was battling a persistent and aggressive bone infection. Even knowing this, we weren’t expecting her to pass so soon or so abruptly without warning.”

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BUB in my lap.

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Lil Bub is the second famous cat to die in 2019, after Grumpy Cat passed in May. Here is a photo of the two social media darlings together.

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Friends forever

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Bridavsky said, “I am forever honored and humbled that you chose me as your caretaker.”

RIP Lil Bub. You will be missed.

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These Funny Cat Snapchats Might Make You Smile

Here’s a question…

What should Snapchat really be used for?

Well, cat photos, of course!

Was there ever any doubt about that? I don’t think so.

Let’s take a peek at some of the best cat Snapchats out there.

1. Awwwww. Peepers.

2. Now you do.

3. Look into the darkness.

As I look into the abyss, the abyss looks into me. from aww

4. Pitching a tent.

Who could that be? from aww

5. Not a morning cat.

How you like that meow?!

6. Can’t get enough!

Faithful little desk buddy from aww

7. Dammit, Otis!

Poor baby!!

8. Wait a second…

This is my cat…. This is not my house. from cats

9. You need a decoy.

The decoy keyboard is working from aww

10. Now you know why.

My cat messed up a single part of my window shades.. never realized why until just now. from funny

11. That’s pretty cute.

I adopted Simba to hunt around the house. Instead, he became a friend with this mouse. from aww

12. Never seen this before…

I would explain if I could… from aww

13. A very unique kitty.

All 4 of my cats paws have unique black/pink combinations from mildlyinteresting

14. He is not happy.

This cat doesn’t even know you and it’s had enough of your shit.

15. Mastermind criminal cat.

Do you have any funny snaps of your kitty cats?

Show them to us in the comments!

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7 Cute Facts About the Mouse Deer

Not too long ago, a species of Chevrotain that had not been seen for over 30 years was spotted in Vietnam, and no one can get over how little and adorable these creatures are.

Rightfully so.

If the mouse deer is your new obsession and you’re curious to know more, well, we’ve got you covered.

7. They have super fierce fangs.

They have two front teeth that are super long and sharp like needles – they use them to stab each other during combat.

6. They’re not deer, nor are they mice.

They do share a suborder with deer (Ruminantia), but have their own family, called Tragulidae.

5. Swimming is a defense mechanism.

The water chevrotain swims underwater to avoid predators – they can even walk on the riverbed in order to avoid being swept along by the current, grabbing hold of reeds to assist.

They can hold their breath for about 4 minutes, but tire easily while swimming.

4. The species vary by weight.

Species can vary in weight from 4 to around 33 pounds, though none get larger than a medium-sized dog.

3. They’re very shy.

They are prey animals, and with nothing but their sharp teeth for protection, all of the species lead fairly secluded, quiet lives. Some are nocturnal, and most graze alone, only hanging out together to mate.

2. There are many variations.

The family has two genera (Hyemoschus and Tragulus), and the spotted mouse deer have their own, Moshiola. All look very similar, however.

1. Their hooves are quite loud.

The males of some species can angrily beat their hooves on the ground four to seven times a second to warn off predators, or to warn their fellow chevrotains to take cover.

 

I just love that these little guys are back in the spotlight, and I hope they don’t go back into hiding for another three decades!

What’s your favorite forgotten and/or little known animal? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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Magnetars: A Magnet so Strong, They Could Tear Your Body Apart

This is kinda crazy…

Some magnets are so weak they can barely keep a photo on the refrigerator. Meanwhile, there are magnetars: the strongest known magnets in the universe. Sadly, you can’t buy these at your local grocery store.

A magnetar is a type of neutron star with an unbelievably powerful magnetic field. Though they have the strongest magnetic pull of any known object in the universe, they are surprisingly small. They’re also very mysterious.

So, where do magnetars come from? Curiosity explains: When a star dies, it explodes into a supernova, collapsing in on itself in a giant extravagant display of light before fading away. If the star was large enough, it will then create a neutron star in its place. A neutron star is so small that it’s often just the size of a small city (for a star, that’s tiny!). However, it’s also incredibly dense. Just one teaspoon weighs at least one billion tons. All this matter spins around hundreds of times per second, creating a magnetic field that is a trillion times stronger than the Earth’s own.

And then there are magnetars. Magnetars are an especially magnetic type of neutron star. Nobody really knows why they’re so magnetic, but they are. They’re roughly 1000 trillion times more magnetic than Earth.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

This magnetic field is so strong that just coming within 600 miles of it would destroy your nervous system and even change your molecular structure. If you came closer, the gravitational force would destroy you at the atomic level. These stars can also wreak havoc on planets like the Earth.

Thankfully, the closest magnetar to us is much too far to do such damage, and they’re also incredibly rare. Scientists have been on the lookout for magnetars since 1979, but while they’ve found over 2000 neutron stars, fewer than 25 have been confirmed as magnetars.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Still, it’s fascinating to know that they’re out there somewhere!

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Prehistoric Mammoth Traps Were Discovered Outside Mexico City

This is big news.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has revealed at a press conference that ancient traps containing the remains of 14 woolly mammoths were uncovered in Mexico.

At least 15,000 years old, the traps were discovered in Tultepec, a city approximately 25 miles north of Mexico City.

Named “Tultepec II,” the site has been under excavation for about 10 months, and archaeologists working there have discovered around 824 bones from 14 mammoths, including skulls, jaws and ribs. The site has been named a “Mammoth Megasite.”

At the press conference, Pedro Francisco Sánchez Nava, the national archeology coordinator at the INAH, said, “It represents a watershed, a touchstone for how we previously imagined groups of hunter-gatherers interacted with these enormous herbivores.”

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

Researchers think they now have a better understanding of how the beasts were hunted and used by hunter-gatherers in the Mexico Basin. Twenty or thirty hunters would separate one from the herd and, using torches, lure it into the trap. Once there, the animal would be killed, with most of the body either eaten or used in other ways.

One of the skeletons was laid out in a ceremonial way with evidence that indicated it took several hunts to bring it down completely. The arrangement of the bones points to a level of reverence the hunters had for such a fierce kill.

A Mammoth Museum is already open in Tultepec with a nearly complete wooly mammoth skeleton, discovered there in 2016, on display.

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These Good Dogs All Use Wheelchairs to Run and Play!

Maybe you’d be tempted to feel bad for these exceptional pooches, but don’t worry about them. Yes, they have to use wheelchairs for one reason or another, but they’re living their best lives, and they’re clearly very happy to have a new lease on life.

Enjoy these beautiful pics and videos of these pups zipping around.

1. I’m a huge fan of Moby!

2. Look at them go!

3. All those fall colors.

4. Awwwww. My heart is melting.

5. Atlas is doing great!

6. Let’s go for a stroll.

7. He even has a cool license plate.

8. A dynamic duo!

9. Don’t slow me down!

10. Gone, but not forgotten.

Wonderful, aren’t they? I think so.

If you have any pets that use devices like these, share some photos and stories with us in the comments!

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