The World of Animals

Animals are more than ever a test of our character, of mankind's capacity for empathy and for decent, honourable conduct and faithful stewardship. We are called to treat them with kindness, not because they have rights or power or some claim to equality, but in a sense because they don't; because they all stand unequal and powerless before us. Animals are so easily overlooked, their interests so easily brushed aside. Whenever we humans enter their world, from our farms to the local animal shelter to the African savanna, we enter as lords of the earth bearing strange powers of terror and mercy alike. - Matthew Scully

A peek into the world of animals. I think it is good that we learn something about the animals that share our wonder-ful world.

Here are some fun facts and trivia about animals, courtesy of Facebook pages ‘Colours of Nature’, ‘Strangest Facts’, ‘Mind Blowing Facts’, etc… However, I do not know if they are true. Some of them sound really incredible.

A thirsty camel can gulp down 20–30 gallons (75–115 liters) in just a few minutes—sometimes up to 3 gallons per minute. That’s faster than a bathtub faucet on full blast.

A few reasons they can pull this off:
Oval red blood cells let their blood rehydrate without bursting.
Their mouths and throats are built to swallow continuously without choking.
Their bodies can handle huge swings in hydration that would kill most animals.
It’s one of the most extreme drinking feats in the animal kingdom.
– A Facebook post by ‘Mind Blowing Facts’

The saliva spreads thin on impact, seeping into every groove of an insect’s body to maximize contact before it thickens and locks on.

Inside the mouth, it switches again to release the meal. Precision chemistry, zero hesitation. – A Facebook post by ‘Strangest Facts’

“Boxing” in Brown hare is a well-documented springtime behavior, especially visible during the breeding season (often peaking in March in Europe). While people long assumed it was males fighting, wildlife studies and field observations show it’s usually a female striking a male that is chasing her too aggressively. It’s a form of rejection or testing persistence, not a duel between rival males.

Male–male fights can happen, but the classic upright boxing posture most often involves a female telling a male to back off. – A Facebook post

A polka-dotted zebra was seen in Kenya’s Maasai Mara and researchers were amazed. Instead of the usual clear black-and-white stripes, this zebra had extra dark patches that made it look like it had spots. The sight was striking because zebras are known for their neat stripe patterns, so a spotted coat stood out right away on the plains.

Scientists say the unusual look comes from a rare genetic change called pseudomelanism. That means the genes that control color made more dark pigment in some places than normal. It is not the same as being all black or albino — it just changes the usual stripe pattern into blotches or extra stripes. This kind of change is very uncommon, so seeing it in the wild is special.

Researchers were excited and surprised because rare animals like this can teach us about how genes work and how animals adapt. They took photos and notes, hoping to learn more without disturbing the zebra. The sight also reminded people how important it is to protect wild places like the Maasai Mara, where unexpected and beautiful animals can still be found. - A Facebook post by ‘Colours of Nature’

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