World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/giant-panda-why-are-they-endangered): Are Giant Pandas Still Endangered? What Changed, and What Didn't.

## Are giant pandas still endangered?
Not in the IUCN's Endangered category. They were reclassified as Vulnerable in 2016 after decades of habitat protection increased both the wild population and the protected forest area. The species is still threatened, mainly by habitat fragmentation.

## What is the biggest threat to giant pandas now?
Fragmentation. Roads, farmland and settlements split the remaining bamboo forest into isolated blocks, so populations cannot interbreed. That costs genetic diversity and leaves each small group vulnerable to a single local event such as bamboo die-back.

## Why is bamboo flowering dangerous for pandas?
Bamboo species flower across an entire stand at once and then die back, sometimes on cycles of several decades. Pandas historically moved to another stand. Where forest is fragmented that escape route no longer exists, so a natural cycle becomes a starvation event.

## Did captive breeding save the giant panda?
Captive breeding succeeded technically and supports reintroduction, but the population recovery is attributed principally to protecting and restoring wild bamboo forest. Breeding animals is only useful if there is connected habitat to release them into.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/giant-panda-vs-red-panda-differences): Giant Panda vs Red Panda: Why They Share a Name but Not a Family.

## Summary
Giant pandas are bears (Ursidae) and red pandas are the only living members of their own family (Ailuridae); they are not close relatives, but both evolved a false thumb from a wrist bone and both live largely on bamboo.

## Excerpt
One is a bear, the other is in a family of its own. What the two pandas share, where they differ, and which was named first.

## Takeaway
Giant pandas are bears; red pandas are the only living species in the family Ailuridae.

## Takeaway
The red panda was named first — the giant panda was named after it.

## Takeaway
Giant pandas weigh 70–125 kg; red pandas just 3–6 kg.

## Takeaway
Both evolved a false thumb from a wrist bone independently — convergent evolution.

## Takeaway
The red panda is Endangered and declining, while the giant panda is Vulnerable and improving.

## Briefing
Two pandas, two families They share a name, a mountain range and a diet, and almost nothing else. See the giant panda guide and red panda guide for full profiles. The red panda was named first Western science described the red panda decades before the giant panda. When the black-and-white bear was described and also found to eat bamboo, it was named after the animal already called a panda — so the giant panda is, in naming terms, the imposter. Different families entirely Giant pandas are true bears in the family Ursidae. Red pandas are the sole surviving members of Ailuridae, a family with no other living species. Their nearest relatives are the raccoon, weasel and skunk lineages, not bears. Size is not close A giant panda is a bear of 70–125 kg. A red panda weighs 3–6 kg — about the size of a large domestic cat, with a long ringed tail it wraps around itself for warmth. Both have a false thumb — separately Both species evolved an enlarged wrist bone that works as an opposable pad for gripping bamboo. Because the two lineages are distant, this is convergent evolution: the same solution reached twice, independently, for the same feeding problem. Different bamboo, different lives Giant pandas eat stems, shoots and leaves and spend most of the day on the ground feeding. Red pandas are largely arboreal, more selective, favour young leaves and shoots, and supplement with fruit, eggs and small animals. Conservation status differs too The giant panda is Vulnerable and improving. The red panda is Endangered and declining, hit by habitat loss across the eastern Himalaya, hunting and the pet trade — and it receives a small fraction of the attention and funding. The uncomfortable comparison The species with worse status, a smaller range and no close relatives is the one most people cannot name the family of. It is a clean illustration of how conservation funding follows charisma rather than need. Read the full red panda wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/giant-panda-vs-red-panda-differences): Giant Panda vs Red Panda: Why They Share a Name but Not a Family.

## Are red pandas related to giant pandas?
Not closely. Giant pandas are true bears in the family Ursidae. Red pandas are the only living members of Ailuridae, whose nearest relatives are raccoons, weasels and skunks. The shared name reflects a shared diet, not shared ancestry.

## Which panda was named first?
The red panda. Western science described it several decades before the giant panda, and the black-and-white bear was subsequently named after it because it also fed on bamboo.

## Why do both pandas have a false thumb?
Convergent evolution. Both lineages independently enlarged a wrist bone into an opposable pad because both faced the same mechanical problem — gripping and stripping bamboo stems — despite being only distantly related.

## Which panda is more endangered?
The red panda. It is listed as Endangered with a declining population, threatened by habitat loss across the eastern Himalaya, hunting and the pet trade. The giant panda is Vulnerable and its population has been improving.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/octopus-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Octopuses (Three Hearts and Nine Brains).

## Summary
Octopuses have three hearts, blue copper-based blood and about two-thirds of their neurons distributed through their arms rather than their central brain, and they change colour and texture despite being effectively colour-blind.

## Excerpt
Blue blood, colour-changing skin in a colour-blind animal, and two-thirds of its neurons in its arms. Twelve verified octopus facts.

## Takeaway
Octopuses have three hearts and blue, copper-based blood.

## Takeaway
About two-thirds of their neurons are in their arms, not their central brain.

## Takeaway
They are effectively colour-blind but may detect colour through light-sensitive skin proteins.

## Takeaway
Skin changes texture as well as colour, giving three-dimensional camouflage.

## Takeaway
Most species live only one to two years, and females usually die after their eggs hatch.

## Briefing
Twelve octopus facts, fact-checked Octopuses are the closest thing on Earth to an intelligence that evolved along a completely separate path from ours. Full profile in our octopus guide . 1. Three hearts Two branchial hearts pump blood through the gills; a third systemic heart drives it around the body. The systemic heart stops when the animal swims, which is part of why octopuses prefer to crawl. 2. Blue blood Octopus blood carries oxygen using haemocyanin, which is copper-based rather than iron-based, so it is blue. Haemocyanin works better than haemoglobin in cold, low-oxygen water. 3. Nine brains, functionally A central brain plus a large nerve cluster in each of the eight arms. Roughly two-thirds of the animal's neurons sit in the arms, which can execute complex actions semi-independently. 4. An arm keeps working when severed Because of that distributed control, a detached arm continues to react to stimuli and can even pass food towards where the mouth would be. 5. They are colour-blind — and change colour Octopus eyes have a single photoreceptor type. Current evidence suggests they may sense colour through light-sensitive proteins in the skin itself, effectively seeing with their body. 6. Skin changes texture as well as colour Muscular papillae raise and flatten the skin to mimic sand, rock or seaweed, so camouflage is three-dimensional, not just a pattern. 7. Only the beak is hard An octopus can squeeze through any gap its beak fits through — which for a large animal can be startlingly small. 8. Each sucker tastes Suckers carry chemoreceptors, so an octopus tastes whatever it touches. It can identify prey inside a crevice it cannot see into. 9. They use tools The veined octopus carries coconut shell halves to assemble as portable shelter — one of the clearest examples of tool use outside vertebrates. 10. Ink is more than a smokescreen The cloud both obscures and contains compounds that interfere with a predator's sense of smell, buying escape time twice over. 11. Most live only one to two years Short lives are the rule. Females typically stop feeding while guarding eggs and die soon after they hatch. 12. They are famous escape artists Captive octopuses open jars, dismantle enclosures and exploit gaps — behaviour that says as much about their problem-solving as any laboratory test. Read the full octopus wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/octopus-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Octopuses (Three Hearts and Nine Brains).

## How many hearts does an octopus have?
Three. Two branchial hearts push blood through the gills and one systemic heart circulates it around the body. The systemic heart stops while the animal swims, which is one reason octopuses generally prefer to crawl.

## Why is octopus blood blue?
Because it uses haemocyanin, a copper-based oxygen carrier, rather than the iron-based haemoglobin in our own blood. Haemocyanin is more efficient in cold, low-oxygen water, which suits octopus habitats.

## Do octopuses really have nine brains?
Functionally. There is one central brain plus a large nerve cluster in each of the eight arms, and roughly two-thirds of the animal's neurons sit in the arms. Arms can carry out complex movements semi-independently of the central brain.

## Are octopuses colour-blind?
Their eyes contain only one photoreceptor type, so they cannot see colour the way we do. Research suggests they may detect colour through light-sensitive proteins in the skin itself, which would let them match a background they cannot see the colour of.

## How long do octopuses live?
Most species live only one to two years. Females typically stop feeding while brooding their eggs and die shortly after the eggs hatch, a pattern that limits how much any individual can learn over a lifetime.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/octopus-how-intelligent-are-they): How Intelligent Is an Octopus? What the Evidence Actually Shows.

## Summary
Octopuses solve mazes, open containers, use coconut shells as portable shelter and recognise individual humans — an intelligence that evolved entirely independently of the vertebrate line, distributed across a brain and eight semi-autonomous arms.

## Excerpt
Tool use, maze solving, individual recognition and famous escapes — plus what a one-to-two-year lifespan means for octopus cognition.

## Takeaway
Octopus intelligence evolved independently of vertebrates, from an ancestor over 500 million years back.

## Takeaway
Veined octopuses carry and assemble coconut shells as portable shelter — genuine tool use.

## Takeaway
They open jars, solve mazes and improve with practice.

## Takeaway
They can distinguish individual human handlers dressed identically.

## Takeaway
Short lives and no parental care mean each octopus learns everything itself, from scratch.

## Briefing
Octopus intelligence, without the hype Octopus cognition is genuinely remarkable and routinely exaggerated. Here is what the evidence supports. Full profile in our octopus guide . Independent origins The last common ancestor of octopuses and vertebrates was a simple marine animal more than 500 million years ago. Whatever intelligence an octopus has, it was built from scratch on a different body plan — which is precisely what makes it scientifically valuable. Tool use Veined octopuses have been recorded collecting discarded coconut shell halves, carrying them across open seabed, and assembling them into a shelter. Carrying something inconvenient now for a benefit later is a demanding definition of tool use, and this clears it. Problem solving Captive octopuses open screw-top jars to reach prey, navigate mazes, and improve with practice. Some studies report observational learning, where an animal solves a task faster after watching another do it, though results vary between studies. Recognising individual people Octopuses have been shown to behave differently towards different human handlers who are dressed identically — approaching one and squirting another — indicating individual recognition rather than a generic response to humans. A distributed nervous system About two-thirds of an octopus's roughly 500 million neurons sit in the arms. An arm can locate and grasp food without direction from the central brain. This is not a smaller version of vertebrate cognition; it is a different architecture, with local control at the periphery. The lifespan limit Most octopuses live one to two years and are effectively solitary, with no parental care after hatching and no opportunity to transmit learned behaviour to the next generation. Everything an octopus knows, it works out itself, within a very short life. Why it matters for welfare The evidence for octopus cognition and pain perception was strong enough that several jurisdictions have extended animal welfare protection to cephalopods. That is an unusually direct route from laboratory findings to legal protection. Read the full octopus wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/octopus-how-intelligent-are-they): How Intelligent Is an Octopus? What the Evidence Actually Shows.

## Are octopuses intelligent?
Yes, by every practical measure used on animals: they solve novel physical problems, open containers, navigate mazes, improve with practice, use tools and recognise individual humans. Their intelligence evolved completely independently of the vertebrate line.

## Do octopuses use tools?
Yes. The veined octopus collects discarded coconut shell halves, carries them across open seabed at some cost to its own mobility, and assembles them into shelter. Transporting an object for later use is one of the stricter definitions of tool use, and this behaviour meets it.

## Can an octopus recognise people?
There is evidence they can. Captive octopuses have behaved consistently differently towards individual handlers wearing identical clothing — approaching one and squirting another — which indicates recognition of the individual rather than of humans in general.

## How many neurons does an octopus have?
Roughly 500 million, comparable to a dog. What is unusual is the distribution: about two-thirds sit in the arms rather than the central brain, so each arm can sense and act with considerable independence.

## Why does the octopus's short lifespan matter?
Most live only one to two years, are solitary and provide no care after hatching, so nothing learned is passed to the next generation. Every octopus works out its world from scratch, which makes what they achieve more impressive rather than less.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/octopus-vs-squid-key-differences): Octopus vs Squid: Eight Arms, Ten Limbs and Two Very Different Lives.

## Summary
Octopuses have eight arms, no internal shell and live on the seabed; squid have eight arms plus two longer feeding tentacles, a stiff internal pen, fins and a streamlined body built for open-water swimming.

## Excerpt
Arms versus tentacles, reef-crawler versus open-ocean swimmer, internal shell versus none. How to tell octopus and squid apart.

## Takeaway
Octopuses have eight arms; squid have eight arms plus two longer feeding tentacles.

## Takeaway
Squid are streamlined with fins for open-water swimming; octopuses are soft-bodied seabed dwellers.

## Takeaway
Squid keep a stiff internal shell remnant (the pen); octopuses have none.

## Takeaway
Many squid suckers carry hardened rings or hooks; octopus suckers are simple cups.

## Takeaway
Both are short-lived, but female octopuses brood their eggs and die after hatching.

## Briefing
Octopus vs squid: how to tell them apart Both are cephalopods, both are molluscs, and they solve completely different problems. See the octopus guide and squid guide . Count the limbs Octopuses have eight arms, all the same. Squid have eight arms plus two much longer feeding tentacles that shoot out to seize prey and retract — ten limbs in total, of two distinct types. Body shape says where they live Squid are streamlined torpedoes with fins along the mantle, built for sustained open-water swimming. Octopuses are soft, rounded and finless, built for crawling, squeezing and hiding on the seabed. The internal shell Squid retain a stiff internal remnant of the ancestral shell — the pen or gladius — that stiffens the body against swimming forces. Octopuses have lost it entirely, which is why they can pour themselves through a gap the size of their beak. Suckers Octopus suckers are simple muscular cups. Many squid have suckers reinforced with hardened rings, sometimes toothed or modified into hooks — gear for gripping struggling fish in open water. Lifestyle and social behaviour Octopuses are largely solitary ambush hunters and den-dwellers. Many squid species shoal, hunt in open water and communicate with rapid body-pattern changes visible to neighbours. Lifespan and reproduction Both are short-lived, typically one to two years. Female octopuses brood a single egg clutch, stop feeding and die after hatching. Squid generally spawn and die shortly afterwards without extended brooding. Quick field test Two limbs noticeably longer than the rest, fins on the body and a rigid torpedo shape means squid. Eight equal arms, no fins and a soft bag-like body means octopus. Read the full squid wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/octopus-vs-squid-key-differences): Octopus vs Squid: Eight Arms, Ten Limbs and Two Very Different Lives.

## What is the difference between an octopus and a squid?
Octopuses have eight equal arms, a soft finless body and no internal shell, and live on the seabed. Squid have eight arms plus two longer feeding tentacles, fins, a streamlined body and a stiff internal pen, and swim in open water.

## How many tentacles does an octopus have?
Strictly, none. Octopuses have eight arms. 'Tentacle' properly refers to the two longer, specialised feeding limbs that squid and cuttlefish have and octopuses lack.

## Can a squid squeeze through small gaps like an octopus?
No. A squid's stiff internal pen and rigid body prevent it. An octopus has no hard part except its beak, so it can pass through any gap the beak fits through.

## Are octopuses and squid related?
Yes, both are cephalopod molluscs, along with cuttlefish and nautiluses. They diverged a long time ago and specialised in opposite directions — one for the seabed, the other for open water.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/penguin-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Penguins (And Why None of Them Live at the North Pole).

## Summary
Penguins are flightless seabirds found only in the Southern Hemisphere — never at the North Pole — with solid bones for diving, a gland that strips salt from seawater, and emperor penguins that fast for around two months while incubating.

## Excerpt
Solid bones, a gland that removes salt, and a species that fasts for two months on the ice. Twelve verified penguin facts.

## Takeaway
All penguin species live in the Southern Hemisphere — none at the North Pole.

## Takeaway
Solid, dense bones reduce buoyancy and make diving efficient.

## Takeaway
Emperor penguins dive beyond 500 m and hold their breath over twenty minutes.

## Takeaway
A supraorbital gland strips salt from the blood so penguins can drink seawater.

## Takeaway
Male emperors fast for roughly two months while incubating through the Antarctic winter.

## Briefing
Twelve penguin facts, fact-checked Penguins traded flight for swimming and became some of the most specialised divers in the ocean. Full profile in our penguin guide . 1. No penguin lives at the North Pole Every penguin species is Southern Hemisphere. The Galápagos penguin nudges just over the equator, but polar bears and penguins never meet in the wild. 2. Their bones are solid Most birds have air-filled bones for flight. Penguin bones are dense, which reduces buoyancy and makes diving far less work. 3. Emperor penguins dive over 500 m The deepest recorded emperor dives exceed 500 metres, with breath-holds beyond twenty minutes — extraordinary for an air-breathing bird. 4. They drink seawater A supraorbital gland above the eyes filters salt from the bloodstream and excretes it as concentrated brine through the bill, so penguins can hydrate at sea. 5. Wings became flippers Penguin wings are stiff, flattened and cannot fold. They are hydrofoils: penguins genuinely fly, underwater. 6. Emperor males fast for around two months The male balances the egg on his feet under a brood pouch through the Antarctic winter, eating nothing, while the female returns to sea to feed. 7. Huddles rotate Emperor huddles can hold thousands of birds and move in slow waves so individuals cycle from the cold outside to the warm centre and back — a self-organising system with no leader. 8. Countershading is camouflage The dark back blends with deep water seen from above; the white belly blends with bright surface light seen from below. It hides them from predators and prey at once. 9. They find their chick by voice In a colony of thousands, returning parents locate their own chick by call alone, using a two-voice vocal system that works through the surrounding noise. 10. There are around 18 species From the metre-tall emperor to the little penguin at roughly 33 cm. The exact count depends on unresolved taxonomic splits. 11. Most species are not polar Penguins live in South Africa, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and the Galápagos. Only a few endure Antarctic conditions. 12. Many are in trouble Fisheries competition, warming seas shifting prey distribution, sea-ice change, oil pollution and introduced predators at breeding sites have pushed several species into threatened categories. Read the full penguin wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/penguin-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Penguins (And Why None of Them Live at the North Pole).

## Do penguins live at the North Pole?
No. Every penguin species lives in the Southern Hemisphere. The Galápagos penguin reaches marginally north of the equator, but penguins and polar bears never meet in the wild.

## How deep can a penguin dive?
Emperor penguins hold the record, with dives beyond 500 metres and breath-holds of more than twenty minutes. Their dense, solid bones and oxygen-storing muscle make that possible.

## Can penguins drink seawater?
Yes. A supraorbital gland above the eyes filters salt out of the bloodstream and excretes it as a concentrated brine through the bill, so penguins can rehydrate while at sea.

## How many species of penguin are there?
Around 18, though the exact figure depends on unresolved taxonomic splits. They range from the emperor penguin at about a metre tall to the little penguin at roughly 33 centimetres.

## Why can't penguins fly?
They traded flight for swimming. Penguin wings evolved into stiff flippers and their bones became dense rather than air-filled — both changes improve underwater propulsion and diving but make flight impossible.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/penguin-vs-puffin-key-differences): Penguin vs Puffin: Opposite Ends of the Earth, and Only One Can Fly.

## Summary
Puffins are flying North Atlantic auks that nest in clifftop burrows; penguins are flightless Southern Hemisphere seabirds. They are not related — their similar look is convergent evolution for pursuit-diving in cold water.

## Excerpt
Both are black-and-white diving seabirds. One lives in the far south and cannot fly; the other lives in the far north and can.

## Takeaway
Puffins live in the North Atlantic and Pacific; penguins only in the Southern Hemisphere.

## Takeaway
Puffins fly at roughly 88 km/h; penguins cannot fly at all.

## Takeaway
Puffins are auks (Alcidae); penguins are Spheniscidae — the resemblance is convergent evolution.

## Takeaway
A puffin's colourful bill plate is a breeding ornament, shed after the season.

## Takeaway
Puffins nest in clifftop burrows; penguins nest on open ground, in scrapes, burrows or on their feet.

## Briefing
Penguin vs puffin: not remotely related Black and white, upright, cold water, fish-eating — and separated by the entire planet plus tens of millions of years. See the penguin guide and Atlantic puffin guide . Opposite hemispheres Penguins are exclusively Southern Hemisphere. Puffins are North Atlantic and North Pacific. Their ranges do not overlap anywhere on Earth. Only one flies Puffins fly, and fast — beating their wings around 400 times a minute to reach roughly 88 km/h. Penguins gave up flight entirely; their wings are stiff flippers that work only underwater. Different families Puffins are auks, family Alcidae. Penguins are Spheniscidae. The resemblance is convergent evolution: both solved pursuit-diving in cold water and arrived at the same countershaded, torpedo-shaped answer. Size An Atlantic puffin stands about 20 cm and weighs under half a kilogram. An emperor penguin is about a metre tall and can exceed 20 kg. That bill The puffin's bright orange, blue and yellow bill plate is seasonal breeding ornament, shed after the season for a duller version. Penguin bills carry no equivalent display plate. Nesting Puffins dig burrows in clifftop turf or use rock crevices, and lay a single egg. Penguins nest on open ground, in scrapes, in burrows, or — in the emperor's case — on their own feet. The compromise puffins live with Wings that must work in both air and water cannot be optimal in either. That is why puffins fly with such frantic wingbeats: the same wing is a compromise. Penguins abandoned the compromise, and became far better divers for it. Read the full Atlantic puffin wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/penguin-vs-puffin-key-differences): Penguin vs Puffin: Opposite Ends of the Earth, and Only One Can Fly.

## Are puffins penguins?
No. Puffins are auks in the family Alcidae and live in the Northern Hemisphere. Penguins are Spheniscidae and live only in the Southern Hemisphere. Their similar appearance is convergent evolution for diving after fish in cold water.

## Can puffins fly?
Yes, at around 88 km/h, beating their wings roughly 400 times a minute. Because the same wings must also work as underwater paddles, they are a compromise — which is why puffin flight looks so frantic.

## Do puffins and penguins ever meet?
Never in the wild. Puffins are restricted to the North Atlantic and North Pacific and penguins to the Southern Hemisphere, so their ranges do not overlap anywhere.

## Which is bigger, a puffin or a penguin?
Penguins, in most comparisons. An Atlantic puffin stands about 20 cm and weighs under half a kilogram, while an emperor penguin is about a metre tall and can exceed 20 kg. Even the little penguin, at 33 cm, is taller than a puffin.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/grey-wolf-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Grey Wolves (And Why Alpha Wolves Aren't Real).

## Summary
Grey wolves live in family packs led by a breeding pair — not by a dominance-fighting 'alpha' — and their howls can carry up to 16 km. The alpha wolf idea came from captive unrelated wolves and was retracted by the researcher who popularised it.

## Excerpt
A howl that carries 16 km, a pack that is really a family, and the debunked study behind the 'alpha wolf' myth. Twelve verified facts.

## Takeaway
Wild wolf packs are families led by a breeding pair, not dominance hierarchies with an 'alpha'.

## Takeaway
The alpha wolf concept came from captive unrelated wolves and was publicly retracted by the researcher who popularised it.

## Takeaway
A howl can carry about 16 km across open country and is individually recognisable.

## Takeaway
Every domestic dog descends from grey wolf populations.

## Takeaway
Most wolf hunts fail, which is why healthy adult prey is usually avoided.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/grey-wolf-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Grey Wolves (And Why Alpha Wolves Aren't Real).

## Briefing
Twelve grey wolf facts, fact-checked The grey wolf ( Canis lupus ) is the largest wild canid and the ancestor of every domestic dog. Full profile in our grey wolf guide . 1. The 'alpha wolf' is a myth The idea came from 1940s studies of unrelated captive wolves forced together. In the wild a pack is a family, and the "alphas" are simply the parents. David Mech, who popularised the term, spent decades trying to retract it. 2. A pack is a family group Typically a breeding pair plus their offspring from several years. Young wolves disperse to find mates and form their own packs rather than fighting for rank. 3. A howl carries up to 16 km Across open tundra a howl can travel roughly 16 km, and about 10 km in forest. Wolves howl to locate packmates, coordinate and advertise territory. 4. Each wolf's howl is individually recognisable Researchers can identify individuals by voice, and wolves respond differently to the howls of packmates and strangers. 5. They are the ancestor of every dog All domestic dogs descend from grey wolf populations, diverging somewhere between 15,000 and 40,000 years ago. 6. Wolves hunt animals far larger than themselves Packs take elk, moose and bison — prey ten times a single wolf's weight — through stamina and coordination rather than a single decisive strike. 7. Most hunts fail Success rates are low, often well under 20%. Wolves test many animals and commit to few, which is why healthy adult prey is usually left alone. 8. They can travel 50 km in a day Wolves trot at around 8 km/h for hours and can sprint near 60 km/h in short bursts. Territories can exceed 1,000 km² where prey is sparse. 9. Pups are raised by the whole pack Older siblings guard the den, bring food and regurgitate meals for pups — cooperative breeding that is unusual among carnivores. 10. Their return reshaped Yellowstone Reintroduction in 1995 changed elk behaviour and vegetation along rivers. The effect is real but often overstated online; researchers describe it as one factor among several, not a single-handed transformation. 11. Wolves rarely attack people Verified attacks are extremely rare across the wolf's entire range. Most conflict concerns livestock, not human safety. 12. Legal status drives everything Grey wolves are Least Concern globally but their fate is set locally by hunting law, protection status and livestock compensation schemes rather than by biology. Read the full grey wolf wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/grey-wolf-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Grey Wolves (And Why Alpha Wolves Aren't Real).

## Are alpha wolves real?
Not in the wild. The concept came from 1940s observations of unrelated captive wolves forced to live together, which produced artificial dominance conflict. Wild packs are family groups where the 'alphas' are simply the breeding parents. David Mech, whose book popularised the term, spent decades asking for it to be dropped.

## How far can a wolf howl be heard?
Up to roughly 16 km across open tundra and about 10 km in forest. Wolves howl to locate packmates, coordinate movement and advertise territory to neighbouring packs.

## Are wolves dangerous to humans?
Verified wolf attacks on people are extremely rare across the species' entire range. The genuine conflict is over livestock, which is why compensation schemes and guardian animals matter more to wolf conservation than public-safety measures.

## Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers?
Partly. Reintroduction in 1995 altered elk behaviour and allowed riverside vegetation to recover in places, which affected bank stability. Researchers describe it as one contributing factor alongside climate, other predators and hydrology — the widely shared version overstates it.

## How big is a wolf's territory?
It varies with prey density, from around 100 km² to over 1,000 km². Wolves regularly travel 50 km in a day at a steady trot while patrolling and hunting.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/grey-wolf-vs-dog-key-differences): Wolf vs Dog: What 15,000 Years of Domestication Actually Changed.

## Summary
Dogs descend from grey wolves but differ in skull shape, bite force, diet and social behaviour: dogs digest starch, read human gestures and retain juvenile traits into adulthood, while wolves have far stronger jaws and avoid people.

## Excerpt
Same ancestor, very different animals. Skull shape, bite force, diet, social behaviour and why a wolfdog is not a pet.

## Takeaway
Dogs descend from grey wolves, diverging roughly 15,000–40,000 years ago.

## Takeaway
Dogs carry multiple starch-digesting gene copies; wolves have very few.

## Takeaway
Dogs read human pointing and gaze untrained; wolves largely do not.

## Takeaway
Wolf bite force is around twice that of a similar-sized dog.

## Takeaway
Wolfdogs combine a wolf's needs with reduced fear of people and are frequently surrendered.

## Briefing
Wolf vs dog: what domestication changed Every domestic dog descends from grey wolf populations, diverging roughly 15,000 to 40,000 years ago. See the grey wolf guide and dog guide . Skull and bite Wolves have longer muzzles, larger teeth and a bite force roughly twice a similarly sized dog's. Dog skulls are shorter and more varied — selective breeding produced everything from a wolf-like husky to a flat-faced pug. Diet: the starch difference Dogs carry multiple copies of a gene for digesting starch; wolves have very few. Living alongside farming humans selected for the ability to eat what people ate, and it is one of the clearest genetic signatures of domestication. Reading humans Dogs follow human pointing and eye gaze from puppyhood, without training. Hand-raised wolves generally do not, or do so far less reliably. This social-cognitive skill is one of the strongest behavioural markers separating them. Juvenile traits retained Dogs keep floppy ears, curled tails, barking and play behaviour into adulthood — traits wolves largely lose. Reduced fear and aggression came bundled with them, a pattern seen across many domesticated species. Social structure Wolf packs are stable extended families holding a territory. Free-roaming dogs form loose, shifting associations around human food sources rather than cooperative hunting units. Wolfdogs Wolf-dog hybrids are widely sold and widely surrendered. They combine a wolf's needs — space, escape drive, prey drive — with a dog's reduced fear of people, and unpredictable behaviour is common. Many jurisdictions restrict them, sanctuaries fill with them, and rabies vaccines are often not licensed for them, which complicates any bite incident. Read the full grey wolf wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/grey-wolf-vs-dog-key-differences): Wolf vs Dog: What 15,000 Years of Domestication Actually Changed.

## Are dogs just domesticated wolves?
Dogs descend from grey wolf populations but are not the same animal. Domestication changed skull shape, bite force, starch digestion, social behaviour and the ability to read human gestures, and dogs retain juvenile traits such as floppy ears and barking into adulthood.

## Is a wolf stronger than a dog?
Yes, substantially. A wolf has a longer muzzle, larger teeth and roughly twice the bite force of a similarly sized dog, along with greater stamina — wolves routinely travel 50 km in a day.

## Can wolves understand human pointing?
Generally not, or far less reliably than dogs. Dogs follow human pointing and eye gaze from puppyhood without training, and this social-cognitive ability is one of the clearest behavioural differences produced by domestication.

## Do wolfdogs make good pets?
Rarely. They combine a wolf's space requirements, escape drive and prey drive with a dog's reduced fear of humans, which makes behaviour hard to predict. Many jurisdictions restrict ownership, rabies vaccines are often not licensed for them, and sanctuaries receive large numbers of surrendered animals.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/great-white-shark-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Great White Sharks (No One Has Filmed Them Breeding).

## Summary
Great white sharks are partly warm-blooded, detect prey by electroreception through jelly-filled pores, replace teeth continuously throughout life, and have never been observed mating or giving birth in the wild.

## Excerpt
Warm-blooded, electroreceptive, and still never observed mating or giving birth. Twelve verified great white shark facts.

## Takeaway
Great white mating and birth have never been observed in the wild.

## Takeaway
Regional endothermy keeps their muscles, gut, brain and eyes warmer than the surrounding water.

## Takeaway
Ampullae of Lorenzini detect the electrical fields of living prey.

## Takeaway
Late maturity and small litters make populations very slow to recover.

## Takeaway
Orcas hunting shark livers can drive great whites out of an area for months.

## Briefing
Twelve great white shark facts, fact-checked The great white ( Carcharodon carcharias ) is the largest predatory fish alive and one of the least understood. Full profile in our great white shark guide . 1. Nobody has filmed them mating or giving birth Despite decades of research, great white reproduction has never been directly observed in the wild — a remarkable gap for such a studied animal. 2. They are partly warm-blooded Regional endothermy keeps muscle, gut, brain and eyes above ambient water temperature, allowing faster swimming and better vision in cold water. 3. They sense electricity Jelly-filled pores called ampullae of Lorenzini detect the tiny electrical fields every living animal produces, letting a shark locate prey buried in sand or in darkness. 4. Teeth are replaced continuously Rows of replacement teeth rotate forward throughout life, so a shark may get through thousands. 5. They can reach about 6 m Verified large individuals approach 6 m and roughly 2 tonnes. Females are larger than males. 6. They breach when hunting seals Off parts of South Africa, great whites accelerate from below fast enough to launch clear of the water — an attack strategy tied to specific seal colonies. 7. Their bite is exploratory as well as lethal Many bites on surfboards and people are single investigative bites rather than predation. It does not make them harmless, but it explains why most bite victims survive. 8. They cross oceans Tagged individuals have crossed from South Africa to Australia and back, and Pacific sharks return annually to a mid-ocean area known as the White Shark Café. 9. Countershading hides them A grey back blends with the seabed from above and a white belly with bright surface light from below. 10. They are slow to reproduce Late maturity, long gestation and small litters mean populations recover extremely slowly from losses — the core reason they are Vulnerable. 11. Orcas can displace them Where orcas that specialise in shark livers appear, great whites abandon the area for months, documented off California and South Africa. 12. They kill far fewer people than people think Unprovoked fatal bites worldwide number in the low single figures most years, across all shark species combined. Read the full great white shark wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/great-white-shark-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Great White Sharks (No One Has Filmed Them Breeding).

## Are great white sharks endangered?
They are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Late maturity, long gestation and small litters mean populations recover very slowly from fishing pressure, bycatch and historical culling.

## Are great white sharks warm-blooded?
Partly. They use regional endothermy to keep swimming muscle, stomach, brain and eyes above the surrounding water temperature, which improves speed, digestion and vision in cold water. They are not fully warm-blooded like mammals.

## How big do great white sharks get?
Verified large individuals approach 6 metres and around 2 tonnes, with females larger than males. Claims of much larger animals are common and generally unverified.

## Why do great white sharks bite people?
Most bites appear to be single investigative bites rather than predation — sharks explore unfamiliar objects with their mouths, having no hands. That is why the majority of people bitten survive, though the injuries can still be severe.

## Can orcas kill great white sharks?
Yes. Orcas that specialise in feeding on shark livers have been documented killing great whites off California and South Africa, and surviving sharks abandon the area for months afterwards.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/koala-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Koalas (They Are Not Bears, and They Have Fingerprints).

## Summary
Koalas are marsupials, not bears. They sleep up to 20 hours a day because eucalyptus leaves provide very little energy and are toxic to most animals, and their fingerprints are almost indistinguishable from human ones.

## Excerpt
Fingerprints indistinguishable from ours, 20 hours of sleep a day, and a diet that would poison most animals. Twelve koala facts.

## Takeaway
Koalas are marsupials related to wombats, not bears.

## Takeaway
Their fingerprints are nearly indistinguishable from human fingerprints under a microscope.

## Takeaway
Up to 20 hours of sleep a day is energy conservation on a very low-calorie diet.

## Takeaway
Joeys eat their mother's pap to acquire the gut microbes needed to digest eucalyptus.

## Takeaway
Queensland, NSW and ACT populations were listed as Endangered in 2022.

## Briefing
Twelve koala facts, fact-checked The koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) is a marsupial built entirely around a diet almost nothing else can eat. Full profile in our koala guide . 1. Koalas are not bears They are marsupials, more closely related to wombats than to any bear. "Koala bear" is a persistent misnomer. 2. They have fingerprints like ours Koala fingerprints are so similar to human ones that they are difficult to tell apart under a microscope — evolved independently for gripping. 3. They sleep up to 20 hours a day Eucalyptus is low in calories and hard to digest. Sleep is energy conservation, not laziness. 4. Eucalyptus is toxic to most animals Koalas process the toxins with an enlarged caecum and specialised liver enzymes, which is why the niche is nearly uncontested. 5. They are fussy even about eucalyptus Of hundreds of eucalyptus species, koalas eat relatively few, and preferences vary regionally — which makes habitat replanting harder than it sounds. 6. Joeys eat their mother's pap Before switching to leaves, a joey eats a special faecal pap that seeds its gut with the microbes needed to digest eucalyptus. 7. Newborns are the size of a jellybean They crawl unaided to the pouch and stay about six months. 8. Males bellow far below their size A specialised extra pair of vocal folds lets males produce calls far deeper than an animal their size should manage. 9. Chlamydia is a major threat Widespread infection causes blindness, infertility and death, and is worsened by stress from habitat loss. 10. They rarely drink Most water comes from leaves, though koalas do drink in heat and drought — behaviour that has increased with rising temperatures. 11. They hug trees to cool down Pressing against trunks, which can be several degrees cooler than the air, is a documented heat-management behaviour. 12. They are Endangered in much of their range Populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT were listed as Endangered in 2022 after habitat loss, bushfire and disease. Read the full koala wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/koala-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Koalas (They Are Not Bears, and They Have Fingerprints).

## Are koalas bears?
No. Koalas are marsupials, carrying their young in a pouch, and their closest relative is the wombat. The name 'koala bear' is a long-standing misnomer with no basis in their biology.

## Why do koalas sleep so much?
Eucalyptus leaves are low in calories, high in fibre and toxic to most animals. Digesting them takes a great deal of energy and yields little, so sleeping up to 20 hours a day is an energy-conservation strategy.

## Do koalas really have fingerprints?
Yes, and they are so similar to human fingerprints that they can be difficult to distinguish under a microscope. The similarity evolved independently, for gripping branches.

## Are koalas endangered?
Populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory were listed as Endangered in 2022, following habitat loss, the 2019–20 bushfires, disease and vehicle strikes. Status varies by region.

## Why do koalas hug trees?
To cool down. Tree trunks can be several degrees cooler than the surrounding air, and pressing against them is a documented heat-management behaviour during hot weather.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/kangaroo-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Kangaroos (They Cannot Walk Backwards).

## Summary
Kangaroos cannot hop backwards because of their large feet and thick tail, they use elastic tendons that make hopping more efficient the faster they go, and females can pause a pregnancy until conditions improve.

## Excerpt
Tendons that work like springs, a tail used as a fifth leg, and the ability to pause a pregnancy. Twelve verified kangaroo facts.

## Takeaway
Kangaroos cannot hop backwards because of their large feet and rigid tail.

## Takeaway
Elastic tendons make hopping more energy-efficient as speed increases.

## Takeaway
The tail generates as much propulsive force as a human leg during slow movement.

## Takeaway
Embryonic diapause lets a female pause a pregnancy until conditions improve.

## Takeaway
A mother can produce two different milk compositions at the same time.

## Briefing
Twelve kangaroo facts, fact-checked Kangaroos are the largest marsupials alive and the only large animals that hop as their main gait. Full profile in our kangaroo guide . 1. They cannot hop backwards Large feet and a thick, inflexible tail make reversing impossible — part of why the kangaroo appears on Australia's coat of arms as a symbol of moving forward. 2. Hopping gets more efficient with speed Elastic tendons in the legs store and return energy like springs, so a kangaroo uses barely more energy at 20 km/h than at 10. 3. The tail is a fifth leg When walking slowly, a kangaroo supports its weight on its tail and produces as much propulsive force with it as with a human leg. 4. Females can pause a pregnancy Embryonic diapause holds a fertilised embryo in suspension until conditions improve or the current joey leaves the pouch. 5. A mother can produce two milks at once Different teats supply different compositions simultaneously — one for a newborn, one for an older joey still returning to the pouch. 6. Newborns are about 2 cm long Born blind and hairless, a joey crawls unaided through the fur to the pouch. 7. Red kangaroos reach 2 m tall Large males can exceed 90 kg, making them the largest marsupials alive. 8. They can reach 70 km/h Sustained speed is far lower, but red kangaroos can hit around 70 km/h in short bursts and clear 8 m in one hop. 9. Males box, and it is serious Sparring uses forearms to grapple and the tail as a brace for a two-footed kick that can be genuinely dangerous. 10. They wet their forearms to cool down Saliva evaporating from a dense surface network of blood vessels is an effective heat-loss mechanism in hot, dry country. 11. They are ruminant-like, but not ruminants Kangaroos ferment plant matter with gut microbes but produce far less methane than cattle, which has attracted agricultural research interest. 12. Most species are not threatened The large kangaroos are abundant and commercially harvested, while several smaller macropods are threatened or already extinct. Read the full kangaroo wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/kangaroo-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Kangaroos (They Cannot Walk Backwards).

## Can kangaroos walk backwards?
No. Their large hind feet and thick, inflexible tail make reversing impossible. This is one reason the kangaroo appears on Australia's coat of arms, as a symbol of only moving forward.

## How fast can a kangaroo hop?
Red kangaroos can reach around 70 km/h in short bursts and clear about 8 metres in a single hop. Cruising speed is much lower, but hopping becomes more energy-efficient as speed rises because leg tendons store and return energy like springs.

## What is embryonic diapause?
The ability to hold a fertilised embryo in suspended development until conditions improve or the current joey leaves the pouch. It lets a female time births to rainfall and food availability rather than to a fixed cycle.

## How big is a newborn kangaroo?
About 2 centimetres — blind, hairless and roughly the size of a jellybean. It crawls unaided through its mother's fur to the pouch, where it attaches to a teat and continues developing.

## Are kangaroos dangerous?
Large males can be. They grapple with their forearms and brace on the tail to deliver a two-footed kick powerful enough to cause serious injury. Attacks on people are uncommon but not unknown, particularly where kangaroos have been fed by humans.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/polar-bear-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Polar Bears (Their Fur Isn't White and Their Skin Is Black).

## Summary
Polar bear fur is not white but transparent and hollow, and the skin beneath is black; they are classified as marine mammals because they depend on sea ice, and can smell a seal from over 30 km away.

## Excerpt
Transparent hollow hairs, black skin, a nose that works over 30 km, and a species classified as a marine mammal. Twelve facts.

## Takeaway
Polar bear hairs are transparent and hollow, not white; the skin beneath is black.

## Takeaway
They are classified as marine mammals because they depend entirely on sea ice.

## Takeaway
They can smell a seal from over 30 km, and through a metre of compacted snow.

## Takeaway
Only pregnant females den for winter — polar bears do not truly hibernate.

## Takeaway
Sea ice loss shortens the hunting season and lengthens fasting, which is the core threat.

## Briefing
Twelve polar bear facts, fact-checked The polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ) is the largest land carnivore and the only bear classified as a marine mammal. Full profile in our polar bear guide . 1. Their fur is not white Each hair is transparent and hollow. The coat looks white because the hairs scatter visible light. 2. Their skin is black Black skin beneath absorbs solar heat once light reaches it. 3. They are marine mammals Polar bears are legally and biologically classified as marine mammals because their entire life cycle depends on sea ice. 4. They smell seals over 30 km away They can also detect a seal in a breathing hole under a metre of compacted snow. 5. Males can exceed 700 kg Large males reach around 3 m standing, making this the largest land carnivore alive. 6. They are strong swimmers One tracked bear swam continuously for nine days across more than 600 km of open water — a journey that becomes more common, and more costly, as ice retreats. 7. They do not hibernate Only pregnant females den through winter. Other bears remain active year-round. 8. Seal blubber is the whole diet Ringed and bearded seals supply the fat a polar bear needs. Terrestrial food cannot replace it — a bear on land is losing condition. 9. Their liver is toxic to humans Vitamin A concentrations are high enough to cause serious poisoning, a hazard long known to Arctic peoples. 10. Cubs are born tiny Around 600 g at birth, in a snow den, emerging in spring at roughly 10–12 kg. 11. They can overheat easily Insulation is so effective that polar bears overheat when running, which is why they move deliberately and hunt by waiting. 12. Sea ice loss is the threat Less ice means a shorter hunting season and longer fasting. The species is Vulnerable, and the mechanism is unusually direct. Read the full polar bear wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/polar-bear-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Polar Bears (Their Fur Isn't White and Their Skin Is Black).

## Is polar bear fur white?
No. Each hair is transparent and hollow, and the coat appears white because the hairs scatter visible light. The skin underneath is black, which helps absorb solar heat.

## Are polar bears marine mammals?
Yes. Polar bears are classified as marine mammals because their entire life cycle — hunting, travelling and breeding — depends on sea ice and on marine prey, principally ringed and bearded seals.

## How far can a polar bear smell?
Over 30 kilometres for a seal on open ice, and they can detect a seal in a breathing hole beneath around a metre of compacted snow.

## Do polar bears hibernate?
Not in the usual sense. Only pregnant females enter dens for the winter to give birth. Other polar bears remain active through the Arctic winter.

## Why are polar bears endangered?
They are listed as Vulnerable. Sea ice is their hunting platform, so as ice forms later and melts earlier the hunting season shortens and the fasting period lengthens, reducing body condition, cub survival and reproductive success.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/cheetah-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Cheetahs (They Cannot Roar, and They Steer With Their Tail).

## Summary
Cheetahs reach around 100 km/h but can only sustain it for 20–30 seconds; they cannot roar, they use semi-retractable claws as running spikes, and they steer at speed with their tail.

## Excerpt
Semi-retractable claws, a tail used as a rudder, and a sprint that ends in under a minute. Twelve verified cheetah facts.

## Takeaway
Cheetahs hit around 100 km/h but can sustain it for only 20–30 seconds.

## Takeaway
They cannot roar — they purr, chirp and yelp instead.

## Takeaway
Semi-retractable claws act as running spikes; no other cat has them.

## Takeaway
The long flat tail works as a rudder for high-speed turns.

## Takeaway
Very low genetic diversity following an ancient population bottleneck.

## Briefing
Twelve cheetah facts, fact-checked The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ) is the fastest land animal and, in almost every other respect, the least typical big cat. Full profile in our cheetah guide . 1. They reach about 100 km/h Verified sprints approach 100 km/h, with acceleration from standstill faster than most sports cars. 2. The sprint lasts under a minute Body temperature and oxygen debt force a stop after roughly 20–30 seconds. A chase that runs long is a chase already lost. 3. They cannot roar Cheetahs lack the specialised larynx of the roaring cats. They purr continuously, chirp like a bird, and yelp — but never roar. 4. Their claws are semi-retractable Unlike other cats, cheetah claws stay partly exposed and work like sprinter's spikes for grip. 5. The tail is a rudder Long, heavy and flat, it counterbalances sharp turns at speed — which is how a cheetah tracks a jinking gazelle. 6. Tear marks cut glare The black lines from eye to mouth are thought to reduce sun glare, in the same way an athlete's eye black does. 7. They take about three strides per second The spine flexes and extends so far that all four feet leave the ground twice in each stride cycle. 8. They hunt by day Being active in daylight avoids lions and hyenas, which would otherwise steal kills — cheetahs lose a large share of what they catch. 9. Genetic diversity is extremely low A population bottleneck around 10,000 years ago left cheetahs so genetically similar that skin grafts between unrelated individuals are accepted. 10. Cub mortality is very high Most cubs do not reach adulthood, principally through predation by lions and hyenas. 11. Males form coalitions Brothers often stay together for life, holding territory jointly, while females are solitary. 12. They are Vulnerable and shrinking Cheetahs occupy a small fraction of their historic range, squeezed by habitat loss, prey decline, conflict with farmers and the illegal pet trade. Read the full cheetah wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/cheetah-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Cheetahs (They Cannot Roar, and They Steer With Their Tail).

## How fast can a cheetah run?
Verified sprints approach 100 km/h, with acceleration faster than most sports cars. The sprint can only be held for roughly 20 to 30 seconds before body temperature and oxygen debt force the cat to stop.

## Can cheetahs roar?
No. Cheetahs lack the specialised larynx structure that lets lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars roar. They purr continuously, chirp in a distinctly bird-like way, and yelp.

## Why do cheetahs have tear marks?
The black lines running from the inner eye to the mouth are thought to reduce sun glare, functioning much as the eye black used by athletes does, which helps a daytime hunter track prey in bright light.

## Are cheetahs endangered?
They are listed as Vulnerable and occupy a small fraction of their historic range. Habitat loss, declining prey, conflict with farmers, cub predation and the illegal pet trade all contribute, and extremely low genetic diversity limits resilience.

## Why do cheetahs hunt during the day?
To avoid lions and hyenas, which are more active at night and readily steal cheetah kills. Cheetahs already lose a substantial share of what they catch to larger carnivores, so daytime hunting is a risk-reduction strategy.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/giraffe-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Giraffes (Seven Neck Bones, Same as You).

## Summary
Giraffes have seven neck vertebrae — the same number as humans — each hugely elongated, along with blood pressure roughly twice ours and a valve system that stops them blacking out when they raise their heads.

## Excerpt
A tongue that resists thorns, blood pressure twice ours, and half an hour of sleep a day. Twelve verified giraffe facts.

## Takeaway
Giraffes have seven neck vertebrae, the same number as humans, each hugely elongated.

## Takeaway
Blood pressure is roughly double ours, with neck valves preventing blackouts on head-raising.

## Takeaway
The 45 cm prehensile tongue and antiseptic saliva let them feed among acacia thorns.

## Takeaway
They sleep about 30 minutes a day, usually in short standing bouts.

## Takeaway
Coat patterns are unique to the individual and partly inherited from the mother.

## Briefing
Twelve giraffe facts, fact-checked The giraffe is the tallest land animal alive and a solid piece of engineering around one problem: getting blood to a head five metres up. Full profile in our giraffe guide . 1. Seven neck bones, same as a human Almost all mammals have seven cervical vertebrae. A giraffe's are simply enormous — some over 25 cm each. 2. Blood pressure roughly twice ours Needed to push blood up to the brain, supported by an unusually large, thick-walled heart. 3. Valves stop them blacking out Neck valves and elastic vessels manage the pressure surge when a giraffe lifts its head after drinking. 4. Tight leg skin acts as a G-suit Very tight skin and dense connective tissue in the legs prevent blood pooling — a design NASA has studied. 5. Their tongue is around 45 cm Dark, prehensile and tough, it strips leaves from between acacia thorns. The dark pigment may protect against sunburn. 6. Thick saliva coats the thorns Antiseptic, viscous saliva helps them swallow thorns without injury. 7. They sleep around 30 minutes a day Usually in short bouts, often standing. Lying down leaves them vulnerable and slow to rise. 8. Calves fall about 2 m at birth Born while the mother stands, the drop helps break the amniotic sac. Calves stand within an hour. 9. Coat patterns are individual and inherited No two giraffes share a pattern, and patch characteristics pass from mother to calf. 10. They hum at night Long thought nearly silent, giraffes were recorded producing low humming after dark; its function is still unresolved. 11. Males fight by necking Swinging the neck to land blows with the ossicone-topped skull. Contests are serious and occasionally fatal. 12. They have suffered a silent decline Giraffe numbers fell substantially over recent decades with far less attention than elephants or rhinos — often called the silent extinction. Read the full giraffe wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/giraffe-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Giraffes (Seven Neck Bones, Same as You).

## How many bones are in a giraffe's neck?
Seven — the same number as a human and almost every other mammal. The difference is size: individual giraffe cervical vertebrae can exceed 25 centimetres.

## How long is a giraffe's tongue?
Around 45 centimetres. It is prehensile, tough and dark-pigmented, which may protect it from sunburn during long periods of browsing, and it strips leaves from between acacia thorns.

## How much do giraffes sleep?
Roughly 30 minutes in a 24-hour period, usually taken in very short bouts and often while standing. Lying down leaves a giraffe vulnerable and slow to get up.

## Why don't giraffes faint when they lift their heads?
A system of valves in the neck veins, highly elastic blood vessels and a large thick-walled heart manage the pressure change. Very tight leg skin also prevents blood pooling, functioning much like a pilot's G-suit.

## Are giraffes endangered?
Giraffe numbers have fallen substantially over recent decades — a decline often called the silent extinction because it attracted far less attention than elephant or rhino poaching. Status varies between subspecies, with some assessed as Critically Endangered.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/gorilla-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Gorillas (98% of Our DNA, and They Are Vegetarians).

## Summary
Gorillas share around 98% of their DNA with humans, live in family groups led by a silverback, eat an almost entirely plant-based diet, and have nose prints as individually unique as human fingerprints.

## Excerpt
Nose prints as unique as fingerprints, a chest beat that carries kilometres, and a diet almost entirely of leaves. Twelve facts.

## Takeaway
Gorillas share roughly 98% of their DNA with humans.

## Takeaway
Their diet is almost entirely plants — leaves, stems, pith, bark and fruit.

## Takeaway
Nose-wrinkle patterns identify individuals, as fingerprints do for people.

## Takeaway
Chest beating honestly advertises body size: bigger males beat at lower frequencies.

## Takeaway
Mountain gorillas moved from Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2018 after intensive protection.

## Briefing
Twelve gorilla facts, fact-checked Gorillas are the largest living primates and among the most misunderstood. Full profile in our gorilla guide . 1. About 98% shared DNA with humans Only chimpanzees and bonobos are closer relatives to us. 2. They are essentially vegetarian Leaves, stems, pith, bark and fruit, plus incidental insects. The enormous build is powered by vegetation. 3. Nose prints are unique The pattern of wrinkles above a gorilla's nostrils identifies the individual, and researchers use it exactly as fingerprints are used. 4. Silverback means adult male Males develop a saddle of silver hair at around 12 years. It is a maturity marker, not a species or a rank. 5. Chest beating is a size signal Cupped hands on an air-sac-backed chest produce a hollow knock that carries over a kilometre. Recordings show larger males beat at lower frequencies — the sound honestly advertises size. 6. Groups are families Typically one silverback with several females and their offspring. The silverback mediates conflict and decides where the group travels. 7. They build a new nest every night Each gorilla constructs a fresh sleeping nest from vegetation, on the ground or in trees. 8. Infants develop like ours, only faster Gorilla infants crawl at about two months and walk at around nine, roughly twice the pace of a human child. 9. They are quiet, not aggressive Charges are almost always bluff. Gorillas avoid conflict, and the aggressive reputation comes from early travellers' accounts rather than from behaviour. 10. Mountain gorillas are increasing Against the trend, mountain gorilla numbers have risen through intensive protection, veterinary care and community-linked tourism — enough to move them from Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2018. 11. Human disease is a real threat Sharing so much of our biology means gorillas catch our respiratory infections. Distance rules and mask requirements at tourism sites exist for the gorillas' benefit. 12. Two species, four subspecies Eastern and western gorillas, each with two subspecies. Both species are Critically Endangered except the mountain gorilla, now Endangered. Read the full gorilla wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/gorilla-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Gorillas (98% of Our DNA, and They Are Vegetarians).

## How much DNA do gorillas share with humans?
Around 98%. Only chimpanzees and bonobos are more closely related to humans. That similarity is also why gorillas are vulnerable to human respiratory infections.

## What do gorillas eat?
Almost entirely plants — leaves, stems, pith, bark and fruit, with incidental insects. Despite their size and strength, gorillas are not predators and meat forms no meaningful part of the diet.

## What is a silverback gorilla?
An adult male, named for the saddle of silver hair that develops across the back at around 12 years old. It marks maturity rather than rank or species, though a group is typically led by one silverback.

## Why do gorillas beat their chests?
It is an honest signal of body size. Cupped hands strike a chest backed by air sacs, producing a hollow knock audible over a kilometre, and recordings show larger males produce lower frequencies — so rivals can assess size without fighting.

## Are gorillas dangerous?
Rarely. Gorillas avoid conflict and charges are almost always bluff displays. Their aggressive reputation comes from early travellers' accounts rather than from observed behaviour.

## Are gorilla numbers increasing?
Mountain gorillas are, unusually — sustained protection, veterinary intervention and community-linked tourism raised numbers enough for the IUCN to move them from Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2018. Other gorilla subspecies remain Critically Endangered.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/orca-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Orcas (They Are Dolphins, and They Have Dialects).

## Summary
Orcas are the largest dolphins, not whales. Each pod has its own vocal dialect and hunting culture passed down through generations, and females go through menopause — one of only a handful of species that do.

## Excerpt
Pod-specific dialects, menopause, and hunting cultures passed down through generations. Twelve verified orca facts.

## Takeaway
Orcas are the largest dolphins, not whales.

## Takeaway
Each pod has its own learned vocal dialect, and dialect similarity tracks relatedness.

## Takeaway
Hunting techniques are cultural, learned within a population rather than instinctive.

## Takeaway
Females experience menopause and can live decades afterwards as pod matriarchs.

## Takeaway
The IUCN lists the species as Data Deficient because ecotypes differ too much to assess together.

## Briefing
Twelve orca facts, fact-checked The orca ( Orcinus orca ) is the ocean's apex predator and one of the strongest cases for culture in a non-human animal. Full profile in our orca guide . 1. Orcas are dolphins The largest member of the dolphin family, Delphinidae — not whales, despite the name killer whale. 2. The name means whale killer Sailors called them asesina de ballenas , whale killer, which flipped in translation. They do hunt large whales. 3. Every pod has a dialect Pods use distinct call repertoires learned rather than inherited, and dialect similarity tracks how closely related pods are. 4. Hunting techniques are cultural Wave-washing seals off ice floes, beaching to take sea lions, carousel-feeding herring — each is learned within a population, not universal to the species. 5. Ecotypes barely mix Resident, transient and offshore orcas differ in diet, calls, appearance and social structure, and rarely interbreed despite overlapping ranges. Some researchers argue for splitting them into separate species. 6. Females go through menopause Orcas are one of very few species where females stop reproducing and live decades afterwards, leading pods and holding ecological knowledge. 7. Matriarchs can pass 80 Sons in particular stay with their mothers for life, and survival rates drop when a matriarch dies. 8. They are found in every ocean From the Arctic to the Antarctic — one of the most widely distributed mammals on Earth after humans. 9. They hunt great white sharks Some orcas specialise in shark livers. Great whites abandon an area for months after orcas appear. 10. Dorsal fins collapse in captivity Fin collapse is common in captive males and rare in the wild — one of the clearest visible welfare markers in any captive animal. 11. Southern Residents are in serious trouble This small Pacific Northwest population is declining through chinook salmon shortage, vessel noise disrupting echolocation, and accumulated pollutants. 12. They are Data Deficient globally Ecotypes differ so much that the IUCN cannot assess Orcinus orca as a single unit — individual populations are assessed separately. Read the full orca wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/orca-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Orcas (They Are Dolphins, and They Have Dialects).

## Are orcas whales or dolphins?
Dolphins. The orca is the largest member of the dolphin family Delphinidae. The name killer whale comes from Spanish sailors calling them whale killers, which inverted in translation.

## Do orcas have language?
They have dialects. Each pod uses a distinct repertoire of calls that is learned rather than inherited, and the similarity between two pods' dialects tracks how closely related they are. Whether that constitutes language in the human sense is unresolved.

## Do orcas go through menopause?
Yes — one of only a handful of species known to. Females stop reproducing and can live for decades afterwards, acting as pod matriarchs whose ecological knowledge measurably improves the survival of their offspring.

## Why do captive orcas have bent dorsal fins?
Dorsal fin collapse is common in captive males and rare in the wild. It is attributed to reduced time at depth, repetitive circular swimming and lack of support from water pressure, and is one of the clearest visible welfare indicators in captive cetaceans.

## Can orcas kill great white sharks?
Yes. Some orca populations specialise in feeding on shark livers, and great whites have been documented abandoning an area for months after orcas appear off California and South Africa.

## Are orcas endangered?
The IUCN lists the species as Data Deficient, because orca ecotypes differ so much in diet, behaviour and genetics that a single global assessment is not meaningful. Individual populations, such as the Southern Residents, are assessed separately and some are in serious decline.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/red-panda-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Red Pandas (A Family of Exactly One).

## Summary
Red pandas are the only living members of the family Ailuridae, unrelated to giant pandas; they were named panda first, evolved a false thumb independently, and are Endangered with a declining population.

## Excerpt
The only living member of its family, a false thumb evolved twice over, and a tail used as a Himalayan blanket. Twelve facts.

## Takeaway
Red pandas are the only living species in the family Ailuridae, unrelated to giant pandas.

## Takeaway
They were named panda first — the giant panda was named after them.

## Takeaway
Their false thumb evolved independently from the giant panda's, for the same feeding problem.

## Takeaway
Genetic work supports splitting Himalayan and Chinese red pandas into two species.

## Takeaway
They are Endangered and declining, with far less funding and attention than giant pandas.

## Briefing
Twelve red panda facts, fact-checked The red panda ( Ailurus fulgens ) is an evolutionary orphan: the last survivor of a family that once spread across Eurasia and North America. Full profile in our red panda guide . 1. A family of exactly one Red pandas are the sole living species of Ailuridae. Their closest relatives are raccoons, weasels and skunks — not bears. 2. They were named panda first Western science described the red panda decades before the giant panda, which was then named after it for also eating bamboo. 3. A false thumb, evolved separately Like giant pandas, they have an enlarged wrist bone for gripping bamboo — convergent evolution reached twice for the same feeding problem. 4. They are cat-sized Three to six kilograms, roughly a large domestic cat, with a long ringed tail nearly as long again. 5. The tail is a blanket Wrapped around the body while sleeping, it insulates against Himalayan cold. 6. Bamboo, but selectively Mostly young leaves and shoots, supplemented with fruit, acorns, eggs and small animals — a more varied diet than the giant panda's. 7. Furred foot soles Insulate against snow and improve grip on wet branches. 8. They are largely arboreal Feeding, sleeping and resting mostly in trees, descending head-first thanks to flexible ankles. 9. Standing tall is a threat display Rearing up with forepaws raised makes them look larger — the posture behind their popularity online. 10. Two species, not one Genetic work published in 2020 supports splitting Himalayan and Chinese red pandas into separate species, which has consequences for how each is managed. 11. They are Endangered Habitat loss and fragmentation across the eastern Himalaya, hunting, and capture for the pet trade drive a declining population. 12. Their profile does not match their need They receive a fraction of the conservation funding and attention that giant pandas do, despite a worse status and no close relatives. Read the full red panda wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/red-panda-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Red Pandas (A Family of Exactly One).

## Are red pandas related to giant pandas?
No. Red pandas are the only living members of the family Ailuridae, whose closest relatives are raccoons, weasels and skunks. Giant pandas are bears. The shared name reflects a shared bamboo diet, not shared ancestry.

## Which panda was named first?
The red panda. Western science described it several decades before the giant panda, and the black-and-white bear was subsequently named after it because it also ate bamboo.

## How big are red pandas?
Three to six kilograms and roughly the size of a large domestic cat, with a long ringed tail nearly as long as the body again, used for balance and as insulation while sleeping.

## Are red pandas endangered?
Yes, the IUCN lists the red panda as Endangered with a declining population. Habitat loss and fragmentation across the eastern Himalaya, hunting and capture for the pet trade are the main pressures.

## How many species of red panda are there?
Genetic research published in 2020 supports recognising two species — the Himalayan red panda and the Chinese red panda — rather than one species with two subspecies. The distinction matters for how captive breeding and conservation are managed.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/sea-otter-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Sea Otters (The Densest Fur on Earth, and Tool Use).

## Summary
Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal — up to a million hairs per square inch — use rocks as tools, and are a keystone species whose loss lets sea urchins destroy kelp forests.

## Excerpt
A million hairs per square inch, a favourite rock kept in a pouch, and a keystone role holding kelp forests together.

## Takeaway
Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal — up to a million hairs per square inch.

## Takeaway
They have no blubber, so oil contamination is lethal because fouled fur stops insulating.

## Takeaway
They use rocks as tools and many keep a favourite stone in a skin pouch.

## Takeaway
As a keystone species they control sea urchins and so protect kelp forests.

## Takeaway
Fur hunting reduced them to roughly 1,000–2,000 animals before protection began in 1911.

## Briefing
Twelve sea otter facts, fact-checked The sea otter ( Enhydra lutris ) is the smallest marine mammal and one of the clearest examples of a keystone species. Full profile in our sea otter guide . 1. The densest fur of any animal Up to a million hairs per square inch — the reason they were hunted almost to extinction. 2. No blubber Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters rely entirely on fur for insulation, which is why oil contamination is lethal: fouled fur stops insulating. 3. They use tools Rocks are used to crack shells against the chest, and many otters keep a favourite stone in a loose skin pouch under the foreleg. 4. They eat about a quarter of their body weight daily Staying warm without blubber demands an enormous metabolic rate. 5. They are a keystone species By eating sea urchins they prevent urchin barrens, allowing kelp forests to persist. Remove otters and the kelp goes with them. 6. Kelp forests store carbon Because otters protect kelp, their presence has a measurable effect on carbon storage — a rare directly quantified link between one predator and climate. 7. They hold hands, or use kelp Resting otters wrap themselves in kelp fronds to avoid drifting; holding paws in rafts is real but less common than the internet suggests. 8. Rafts can number in the hundreds Groups of resting otters, usually segregated by sex. 9. Pups float from birth Pup fur is so buoyant that a newborn cannot dive. Mothers wrap pups in kelp while they forage. 10. The fur trade nearly ended them Hunting reduced a population of hundreds of thousands to around 1,000–2,000 animals before protection began in 1911. 11. Recovery has been partial Numbers rebounded in places but remain far below historic levels, and the southern sea otter is still restricted to a fraction of its former range. 12. They are Endangered Oil spills, entanglement, shark bite mortality and disease from land-based pollution all continue to constrain recovery. Read the full sea otter wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/sea-otter-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Sea Otters (The Densest Fur on Earth, and Tool Use).

## Why do sea otters have such dense fur?
Because they have no blubber. Fur is their only insulation in cold North Pacific water, so it evolved to an extreme density of up to a million hairs per square inch — the densest of any animal, and the reason they were hunted almost to extinction.

## Do sea otters really use tools?
Yes. They use rocks to crack open shellfish against their chest while floating, and many individuals keep a favourite stone in a loose pouch of skin under the foreleg, reusing it over time.

## Why are sea otters a keystone species?
They eat sea urchins, which graze kelp. Without otters, urchin numbers explode and strip kelp forests down to bare rock — so a single predator determines whether an entire habitat exists. Because kelp stores carbon, the effect extends to climate.

## Do sea otters hold hands?
Sometimes, in resting rafts, though it is less common than social media suggests. More often a resting otter wraps itself in kelp fronds to keep from drifting while it sleeps.

## Are sea otters endangered?
Yes, the IUCN lists the sea otter as Endangered. Fur hunting reduced the population to a few thousand animals before protection in 1911, and recovery is still constrained by oil spills, entanglement, shark bite mortality and disease from land-based pollution.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/axolotl-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Axolotls (They Regrow Their Own Brains).

## Summary
Axolotls regenerate limbs, spinal cord, heart and parts of the brain without scarring, stay in larval form for life, and are Critically Endangered in the wild despite being kept by the thousand in captivity.

## Excerpt
Limb, spinal cord and partial brain regeneration, permanent larval form, and near-extinction in the wild. Twelve facts.

## Takeaway
Axolotls regenerate limbs, spinal cord, heart tissue and parts of the brain without scarring.

## Takeaway
Neoteny keeps them in larval form for life, retaining external gills.

## Takeaway
They are Critically Endangered in the wild while thousands live in captivity.

## Takeaway
Captive lines are heavily inbred and not suitable as a reintroduction stock.

## Takeaway
Restoring Lake Xochimilco is the only route to a wild future for the species.

## Briefing
Twelve axolotl facts, fact-checked The axolotl ( Ambystoma mexicanum ) is a salamander that never grows up, and one of the most studied animals in regenerative medicine. Full profile in our axolotl guide . 1. They regenerate almost everything Limbs, tail, spinal cord, heart tissue and parts of the brain regrow — without scarring. 2. They never metamorphose Neoteny keeps them in larval form for life, retaining feathery external gills and staying aquatic. 3. They can be forced to metamorphose An iodine or thyroid hormone dose triggers the change into a land-dwelling salamander, but shortens lifespan. It is not done in responsible keeping. 4. Their genome is huge Around ten times the size of the human genome, which made sequencing it a significant technical achievement. 5. Wild numbers are tiny Surveys of Lake Xochimilco have found extremely low densities, and the wild population is Critically Endangered. 6. Captive numbers are enormous Thousands live in labs and aquariums worldwide — an animal simultaneously abundant and nearly extinct. 7. Captive stock is not a rescue population Long-inbred laboratory and pet lines have low genetic diversity and are poorly suited to reintroduction. 8. The name comes from Nahuatl Linked to Xolotl, an Aztec deity said to have transformed into a salamander. 9. Gills are feathery for a reason Large external surface area extracts oxygen from still, warm, low-oxygen water. 10. They are cannibalistic as larvae Young axolotls bite each other's limbs, which regenerate — likely a driver of the regenerative ability itself. 11. They resist cancer Axolotls develop tumours far less readily than mammals, which is of considerable research interest given how much cell regrowth they do. 12. Their lake is the whole problem Urbanisation, water extraction, pollution and introduced tilapia and carp have degraded Xochimilco. Restoring the canals is the only route to a wild future. Read the full axolotl wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/axolotl-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Axolotls (They Regrow Their Own Brains).

## Can axolotls really regrow body parts?
Yes, and far beyond limbs. Axolotls regenerate limbs, tail, spinal cord, heart tissue and portions of the brain, and do so without scarring — which is why they are among the most studied animals in regenerative medicine.

## Are axolotls extinct in the wild?
Not extinct, but Critically Endangered. Surveys of Lake Xochimilco, their only natural habitat, have found extremely low densities. Thousands live in laboratories and home aquariums, so the species is simultaneously abundant and nearly gone from the wild.

## Why do axolotls stay in larval form?
Through neoteny — they retain juvenile features, including feathery external gills and a fully aquatic life, and never undergo the metamorphosis that other salamanders complete. Hormone treatment can force the change, but it shortens their life.

## Can captive axolotls be released to save the species?
Not usefully. Laboratory and pet lines have been inbred for generations and carry very low genetic diversity, and the habitat problem in Lake Xochimilco — pollution, water extraction and introduced fish — remains unsolved. Habitat restoration has to come first.

## Why are axolotls resistant to cancer?
They develop tumours far less readily than mammals do, which is notable given how much cell proliferation their regeneration requires. The mechanisms are an active research area with potential relevance to human medicine.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/platypus-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Platypuses (Venomous, Egg-Laying, and They Glow).

## Summary
Platypuses are egg-laying mammals that hunt with their eyes shut using electroreception in the bill, have venomous spurs on the hind legs of males, sweat milk rather than having nipples, and carry ten sex chromosomes.

## Excerpt
Electroreception, venomous spurs, milk without nipples, ten sex chromosomes and fur that fluoresces. Twelve verified facts.

## Takeaway
Platypuses are monotremes — egg-laying mammals, one of only five surviving species.

## Takeaway
Males carry venomous spurs on the hind legs, rare among mammals.

## Takeaway
They hunt with eyes, ears and nostrils shut, locating prey by electroreception in the bill.

## Takeaway
There are no nipples: milk is secreted through skin patches and lapped from the fur.

## Takeaway
They have ten sex chromosomes and no stomach.

## Briefing
Twelve platypus facts, fact-checked The platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ) breaks so many mammalian rules that the first specimen sent to Britain was assumed to be a hoax. Full profile in our platypus guide . 1. It lays eggs One of only five surviving monotremes — egg-laying mammals — alongside four echidna species. 2. Males are venomous A spur on each hind leg delivers venom powerful enough to cause excruciating, long-lasting pain in humans. Very few mammals are venomous at all. 3. It hunts with its eyes closed Eyes, ears and nostrils shut underwater. The bill detects the electrical fields of muscle contractions in prey — electroreception, almost unknown in mammals. 4. There are no nipples Milk is secreted through skin patches and the young lap it from the mother's fur. 5. Ten sex chromosomes Against the usual two, and the system resembles a bird's more than a mammal's. 6. Their fur fluoresces Under ultraviolet light platypus fur glows blue-green. The function, if any, is unknown. 7. No stomach The oesophagus connects almost directly to the intestine — the stomach was lost in this lineage. 8. They store food in cheek pouches Prey is collected underwater then ground at the surface using horny plates, since adults have no teeth. 9. The first specimen was thought a fake British scientists in 1799 suspected a duck's bill had been sewn onto a beaver-like body. 10. They are a very old lineage Monotremes split from other mammals more than 160 million years ago. 11. They are Near Threatened River regulation, drought, habitat loss, illegal net drowning and predation by foxes and dogs have driven local declines. 12. Drought is the growing threat Platypuses need permanent water. Longer and more severe drought under climate change is now among the most serious pressures on them. Read the full platypus wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/platypus-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Platypuses (Venomous, Egg-Laying, and They Glow).

## Is the platypus venomous?
Males are. Each hind leg carries a spur delivering venom that causes excruciating and long-lasting pain in humans, resistant to conventional painkillers. Venomous mammals are extremely rare.

## Do platypuses lay eggs?
Yes. They are monotremes — egg-laying mammals — one of only five surviving species alongside four species of echidna. They still produce milk for their young, which is what makes them mammals.

## How does a platypus hunt underwater?
With its eyes, ears and nostrils shut. The bill detects the faint electrical fields generated by muscle contractions in prey, a sense called electroreception that is almost unknown among mammals.

## Do platypuses have nipples?
No. Milk is secreted through patches of skin on the mother's abdomen and the young lap it directly from her fur.

## Why does platypus fur glow under UV light?
Platypus fur fluoresces blue-green under ultraviolet light, a discovery made relatively recently. No function has been established, and it may be a by-product of fur chemistry rather than an adaptation.

## Are platypuses endangered?
They are listed as Near Threatened. River regulation, prolonged drought, habitat loss, drowning in illegal nets and predation by foxes and dogs have caused local declines, and increasingly severe drought is the growing long-term pressure.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/narwhal-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Narwhals (The Tusk Is a Tooth, and It Can Sense).

## Summary
A narwhal's tusk is an elongated left canine tooth that grows through the upper lip, carries around ten million nerve endings and can sense the surrounding water — it is a sensory organ, not a weapon.

## Excerpt
A left canine that grows through the lip, ten million nerve endings, and dives past 1,500 metres. Twelve narwhal facts.

## Takeaway
The tusk is an elongated left canine tooth that grows through the upper lip.

## Takeaway
It carries around ten million nerve endings and works as a sensory organ.

## Takeaway
Drone footage showed narwhals using the tusk to stun Arctic cod.

## Takeaway
They dive beyond 1,500 m and stay in Arctic waters year-round.

## Takeaway
Medieval Europe sold narwhal tusks as unicorn horn at many times their weight in gold.

## Briefing
Twelve narwhal facts, fact-checked The narwhal ( Monodon monoceros ) is an Arctic toothed whale with the strangest tooth in the animal kingdom. Full profile in our narwhal guide . 1. The tusk is a tooth It is the left canine, growing straight out through the upper lip, typically in males and reaching around 3 m. 2. It spirals anticlockwise, always Every narwhal tusk twists in the same direction, whatever the individual. 3. It is a sensory organ Roughly ten million nerve endings run to the surface, letting the animal sense water temperature, pressure and salinity through it. 4. Narwhals have almost no other teeth Beyond the tusk they are effectively toothless, swallowing prey whole by suction. 5. They use the tusk to stun fish Drone footage recorded narwhals tapping and stunning Arctic cod with the tusk — the first direct evidence of it being used in feeding. 6. They dive beyond 1,500 m Among the deepest-diving whales, repeatedly, in near-freezing water. 7. They fuelled the unicorn trade Tusks were sold across medieval Europe as unicorn horn, at many times their weight in gold. 8. They have no dorsal fin A low ridge instead — an adaptation for swimming beneath sea ice. 9. They stay in the Arctic year-round Unlike most whales they do not migrate to warmer water, moving instead between coastal summer and offshore winter areas. 10. Some grow two tusks Rarely, the right canine also erupts, producing a double-tusked narwhal. 11. Ice entrapment kills them If leads freeze over, whole groups can be trapped and drown — an event becoming less predictable as ice patterns shift. 12. Noise is a growing threat Narwhals are exceptionally sensitive to disturbance, and increased Arctic shipping and seismic survey noise affect their behaviour at long range. Read the full narwhal wildlife guide for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/narwhal-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About Narwhals (The Tusk Is a Tooth, and It Can Sense).

## Is a narwhal tusk a horn or a tooth?
A tooth. It is the animal's left canine, which grows straight out through the upper lip, usually in males, and can reach around three metres. It is not a horn and it is not made of keratin.

## What is a narwhal's tusk for?
Primarily sensing. Roughly ten million nerve endings run through it, letting a narwhal detect water temperature, pressure and salinity. Drone footage has also recorded narwhals tapping and stunning Arctic cod with it, and it likely plays a role in male display.

## How deep can narwhals dive?
Beyond 1,500 metres, repeatedly, making them among the deepest-diving whales. They do this in near-freezing Arctic water throughout the year.

## Are narwhals related to unicorns?
No, but they funded the myth. Narwhal tusks were traded across medieval Europe as genuine unicorn horn and sold for many times their weight in gold, which sustained belief in the animal for centuries.

## Why don't narwhals have a dorsal fin?
They have a low ridge instead. A tall dorsal fin would be a liability for an animal that spends its life moving beneath and between sea ice.