Animal world

Many cat owners probably have no doubt that their pets understand human speech well. And now this has been scientifically confirmed. Japanese researchers have found out that cats can match words with images and objects. The experiment involved 31 cats. Animals were shown images on a laptop several times, in parallel cats heard the words that denote them. Then they were shown pictures, but some words did...

Two rescued southern wild boars are making their debut at the New York Aquarium. These orphaned females were found off the coast of California when they were still cubs. The calans decided to be taken in. At first, the marine predators lived in different zoos. Now their permanent home will be the New York Aquarium. Southern wild boars live on the coast of California. Once the population of these animals...

Hong Kong has tripled the number of pandas thanks to the birth of two cubs, a brother and sister, Aug. 15. Previously, there were only two pandas in the city, which did not produce offspring. The new addition is the first time pandas have been born in Hong Kong, sparking much interest among locals. The cubs' mother, 19-year-old Ying Ying, and her partner Le Le were donated by China in 2007. Ying Ying...

It has long been known that dolphins love to play. They chase each other, perform acrobatic tricks in the water and jump above its surface. And now Italian scientists have found out that dolphins can also smile. Of course, these sea creatures do not have such a lively facial expressions, as, for example, in dogs or monkeys. Dolphins simply open their mouth, or, as it is also called, beak. Scientists...

Funny images are presented by dog owners on this stage in Moscow. They have created costumes for themselves and their pets specially for the competition which takes place during the Petshop Days festival. One of the most colorful was a team of divers. The scuba tanks are made of plastic bottles, and hoses are made of cables. Arina Denzel, festival participant: “Inspired by this aerodynamic image of...

When it's time for Shani to go to work, she doesn't have to say goodbye to her Essie - the woman can simply bring the dog with her to the office. Shani works for an insurance company in Hobart, Tasmania. And it's been a great place to bring her dogs for years. “Everyone lights up when a dog walks around the call center and you can reach out and rub it. It makes people happy.” At first, dogs could...

Fluffy pets in fashionable outfits and accessories take to the catwalk in New York. All, of course, are accompanied by human models. The collection was designed by designers from various brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Caryna Nina and Johnathan Kayne. The FurBaby show is taking place ahead of New York Fashion Week. But the main thing here is not the outfits, but the charity. More than 20 dogs...

Using cutting-edge high-resolution microscopy, researchers were able to track the developmental stages of butterfly scales, tracing their formation from caterpillar to butterfly and revealing how they become so vivacious. Their work reveals that actin, a protein in butterfly’s scales, orchestrates the intricate arrangement of the colorful structures. Conducted at the University of Sheffield and the...

Unusual guests have gathered at the Shanghai Museum. Along with people, cats stroll through its halls. This event is held under the slogan “The Night of Meowing”. It is held within the framework of the exhibition devoted to Ancient Egypt. People and furry guests will see the exposition called “Secrets of Saqqara”. In ancient Egypt, the goddess Bastet was honored. She protected the pharaoh and the...

These dogs come to the California beach town of Del Mar with their owners almost every day to prepare for the big swim. They are being trained for the Surf-A-Thon dog surfing championships, which will be held in September. Here, everyone is introduced to special boards for the sport, dog floats and water safety rules. Dog surfing instructor Scott Owens comes to the class with his two Dalmatians Bentley...

A significant legal reform is being proposed in the TRNC that will drastically change the legal status of animals. Under current legislation, animals are considered "things," but the new law aims to recognize them as "living beings." This shift is widely regarded as a long-overdue and vital advancement, gaining considerable public attention, according to Kibris Postasi. Raising public awareness about this...

Hundreds of California sea lions have taken over a beach in Monterey in the US. Local authorities have temporarily closed the area to people so as not to disturb or frighten the animals. However, many people come here and admire the sea lions from afar. “They are noisy and seem belligerent. Some are attacking each other. They have a lot of energy and seem to be having a great time. They are cool. They...

Once nearly extinct, California condors are gradually returning to the wild in Mexico. For example, two males were recently released in the Sierra de San Pedro Martir Mountains. They were born and raised in the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City. The feathered raptors have been named Enia and Hulu. California condors are found in the American states of California, Utah and Arizona, as well as in Mexico....

Sadly, the world's oldest bird has likely lost her mate. But life goes on and now, in her 70s, she is looking for a new suitor. A female dark-backed albatross named Wisdom aka Wisdom was photographed dancing alongside potential partners at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Supposedly, she is about 72 years old and can be recognized by her Z333 ring. In late November, Wisdom was back for another...

A new genome study published in the journal Science has found that no single breed is an accurate way to predict your pooch's temperament. Researchers surveyed the owners of 18,385 dogs, asking questions about their pups' behavior, such as whether they continue to follow a command until they finish, are friendly with strangers, and circle before going to the bathroom. They also sequenced* the DNA of 2,155...

Cyprus is known not only for its sunny beaches and historical landmarks but also for its large population of cats that freely roam the streets and courtyards. Legend has it that their presence is linked to Empress Helena, the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. In the 4th century AD, the island of Cyprus suffered from a severe drought, which led to an invasion of snakes. To combat them, Empress...

A real oasis has appeared in Catalonia. This is a water park for dogs. Here they can frolic to their heart's content, and no one will show dissatisfaction with their excessive playfulness or ask the owner to leave the territory. The water park operates 30 kilometers from Barcelona in the town of La Roca del Vallès. Everything here is like in a real "human" water park - lots of water, slides and...

Dozens of buffaloes with full ploughing equipment and a driver rush along a mud track as fast as they can. This is how the Thai province of Chonburi traditionally celebrates the beginning of the rice growing season. More than 50 animals participate in the race in pairs. The distance is 200 meters. Before the competition, you need to take good care of the buffaloes. They must have plenty of water and...

This is an ordinary billboard. But at the bottom, instead of empty space, there is a real flowerbed – only the location is a little unusual. This is part of the new project “Vertical Meadows”, launched by British designer Alistair Lowe. The goal of the initiative is to preserve the biodiversity of plants in the UK and decorate cities. 25 species of wild grasses and flowers are planted on this...

Costa Rican Willan Rio collects shellfish in the water among the mangroves in the province of Guanacaste. Every day he finds about 150. Previously, he could not even dream of such a catch. The number of shellfish increased when the local reserve began to restore mangrove forests. Mangrove forests are a unique ecosystem. But since ancient times, people have cut down trees for wood, fuel and raw materials...

This is the only raptor rescue and rehabilitation centre in Croatia. It was set up by volunteers almost 30 years ago in a Mediterranean forest 20 minutes’ drive from the famous Dalmatian coast. The centre offers visitors the opportunity to learn about birds of prey and, if they are brave enough, to hold and feed some of them. It is also a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site. It is open to...

Three jaguar cubs have become crowd favorites at a zoo in Mexico City. The two females and the male were born in early March, but spent their first months of life in an isolated room. They were recently moved with their mother to an enclosure with a transparent wall. Visitors are very impressed when you can see a mother with her cubs? which gives adults and children a great opportunity to get to know...

A herd of rare Przewalski's horses grazes in the vast expanses of the Hortobágy National Park in Hungary. They disappeared from the wild in the last century. Experts had to turn to a breeding program. Now there are approximately 2,000 Przewalski's horses in the world. About 300 live in this reserve. Hungarian scientists have been observing animals for 20 years. Now they are being helped by drones. This...

Italian Matteo is a former shooting champion who is now learning to walk again. After a car accident, he spent several months in a coma, and his body felt like someone else's. The horse helps him regain control. Hippotherapy sessions are carried out right in the hospital in Rome. Medical technology has advanced greatly in recent years. It is possible to achieve great success in the field of rehabilitation...

The 13-meter skeleton of a long-necked Camarasaurus was shown to the public at the museum of the Danish safari park Knutenborg. The park's director says the herbivorous giant lived 150 million years ago in what is now Wyoming in the United States. The remains were discovered in 2017. They are unique in that they are almost completely preserved. Before dying, the dinosaur curled up near what is now a...

Humpback whales are returning to the waters of Rio de Janeiro. They migrate here annually from Antarctica to breed. About 40 years ago there were 2,000 of them. Now more than 30,000 individuals swim. Humpback whales almost went extinct due to whaling. It is estimated that the population originally consisted of 150,000 individuals. In the 18th century, active commercial hunting of humpback whales began....

African woman Lulu has been living surrounded by bees for six years. An autoimmune disease forced her to move from the city to the countryside. The woman decided not to sit idly by and set up an apiary next to the house. Now Lulu puts a lot of effort into protecting the bees. There are fewer of them around the world. This is influenced by extreme weather conditions, habitat loss and pesticides used by...

These two rare loggerhead turtles, Hera and Athena, are returning to the Atlantic Ocean. They do not have a forelimb. However, experts hope that the reptiles will be able to survive in their natural environment. GPS trackers attached to their shells will help monitor their movements. The turtles were treated at the Marine Life Rehabilitation Center on the island of Gran Canaria. Now they have recovered...