These dormice are usually known for their period of hibernation as they can hibernate for ages. By appetite, they reside in trees, bushes, rock walls, and nests of plant materials. They usually consume fruit, nuts, birds’ eggs, and some insects and small animals. 

These species sleep for long periods, particularly during the winter season. The largest species, known as the edible dormouse, is gray in color and has a maximum length of 8cm for its tail. On the other hand, ‘the laughing dormouse’, was selected as the Winner of the land category in 2017, Comedy Wildlife Awards. It was captured by Andrea Zampatti and it depicts the subtle nature of the dormouse as its best. 

Zampatti, the talented photographer, always managed to capture her shots based on the aura of wildlife. Here are some of the other images captured by the photographer.
It’s time to love for the beautiful Great-crested grebe!
The mighty European Bison or Wisent (Bison bonasus) looking at me in a beautiful birchwood in Bialowieza National Park, Poland.
Proud Member of the deep forest.
He is just posing for the image.
The amazing grace of the Arctic Tern. Image Credit & More Info; Andrea Zampatti/Instagram | facebook
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At 512 years, that would make this ancient shark the oldest living vertebrate in the world. Even though over half a millennium seems like a crazy amount of time, Greenland sharks actually tend to outlive most other animals because they are a very slow-growing species. 

These sharks generally reach a mature age at 150 years old, and some reports have shown that some sharks have lived for almost 400 years. This new discovery of a 512-year-old definitely breaks a record. 512 years would put the birth date of this shark at 1505, older than Shakespeare. 

The discovery was detailed in a research study published in the journal Science. Marine biologist Julius Nielsen and his team used a technique to measure the amount of radiocarbon in the eye lenses of Greenland sharks, revealing the possible age of this senior animal. “It definitely tells us that this creature is extraordinary and it should be considered among the absolute oldest animals in the world,” the biologist told. Previously, scientists used the size of the animal to determine their length. Sharks of the same ‘Somniosidae’ family, usually grow about 0.4 inches per year. 

While this method can give a rough estimate of a shark’s age, it’s by no means scientifically accurate, especially once a certain maturity has been reached. “Fish biologists have tried to determine the age and longevity of Greenland sharks for decades, but without success. Given that this shark is the apex predator (king of the food chain) in Arctic waters, it is almost unbelievable that we didn’t know whether the shark lives for 20 years, or for 1,000 years,” expert Steven Campana from the University of Iceland stated. 

Nielsen has been doing research on Greenland sharks for almost his entire academic career. The animals are known to eat rotting polar bear carcasses, of which the scientist shared a picture earlier. He also says that the species very frequently have to deal with pesky parasites that latch to their eyes, which is why the eyes usually don’t look that healthy. 

Because these sharks tend to live hundreds of years, they usually don’t stick around in the same spot forever. Sharks from all over the world were studied, but genetic results of practically all of them were similar, suggesting they all originated from one place and then migrated. 

The reproduction of Greenland sharks is still somewhat of a mystery, although the scientists do know that the cold water of the Arctic is a preferred place for them stay. This research suggests that Greenland sharks can live much longer than professors and scientists initially thought. No less than 28 Greenland sharks were studied and analyzed for this research paper. 

The new age determination method for these sharks definitely brings some much-needed accuracy to the field, as older methods have proven to be very unreliable. In further research, scientists now want to uncover why the Greenland shark lives so much longer than other vertebrates. They hope that they can discover more about the shark’s long-life genes and will also try to make the link with life expectancy in several different species. 

“This is the longest living vertebrate on the planet,” he said. “Together with colleagues in Denmark, Greenland, USA, and China, we are currently sequencing its whole nuclear genome which will help us discover why the Greenland shark not only lives longer than other shark species but other vertebrates.”

When the research scientist was asked how in the world this shark could possibly reach the age of over 500 years old, he guessed that the cold water combined with a slow metabolism would be responsible. 

He does admit right after, however, that further research is still needed and that this explanation is just a theory.

 

“The answer likely has to do with a very slow metabolism and the cold waters that they inhabit. I’m just the messenger on this. I have no idea.”
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This is a wonderful and inspiring friendship story. This deer was discovered alone, completely weak, and on the verge of death without his mother. So they decided to ask the poor creature who shared their home. A new life at a human home is a strange experience for the baby deer; he is not used to such a life, but thankfully, there is one person who can help him integrate faster: the chubby tabby cat! The cat took over almost all of the deer’s care, treating it as if it were its own child. 

They now stick together whenever and wherever the cats go, and the deer is especially pleased and takes care of both his feline companion wherever he goes. The baby deer is now completely integrated into this family and happier than ever! 

People frequently see this couple cuddling and licking each other’s faces and hands like a genuine sister and brother; it is clear that they feel especially calm and safe when they are together. whole. They have a great time playing together! 

This house cat and abandoned deer have become incredible companions, and they still have a long way to go! It’s incredible how animals adapt and bond with friends of other species. They could teach us a lot!  

Watch the full adorable video here:

 
May God bless both of their hearts ❤️ And Best wishes to this adorable couple!
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Unfortunately, not all children have such security. Some grow up in shelters and adoption homes, no knowing the joys of a real family to call their own. Fortunately, three brothers will know exactly that this Christmas, having been adopted by KC and Lena Currie of Sudbury, Massachusetts. On November 23 of this year – coincidentally National Adoption Day – Joey, 3, Logan, 2, and Noah, 1, who are biological brothers, got to settle into their new forever home together. 

KC and Lena’s journey in adoptive parenthood began one year ago, when they legally adopted Joey (who was two at the time). As per Good Morning America, KC and Lena first spotted Joey at an event sponsored by Children’s Friend. 

 Adoption process 

“We saw a picture of Joey and Children’s Friend mentioned [it] would be a good match,” Lena explained. “He was 18 months old at the time.” They ended up adopting little Joey in March. But that was just the beginning. 

The Curries soon received a call from Children’s Friend telling that Joey had a 6-week-old brother, Noah, who needed a home too. KC and Lena took no time at all to say yes, only to then learn that there was a third brother, Logan, whose adoption into another family had fallen through. 

The Curries took that as a sign that someone was trying to tell them something.

  Just one month after letting Noah into their home, Logan, too, joined his brothers. “It was our gut feeling,” KC told GMA. “We were going to end up saying yes because keeping the brothers together was really important to us. When they’re older and have questions, they’ll have each other to lean on and experience that ride together.” 

Of course, becoming parents to three kids under the age of 4 has been no walk in the park, but KC and Lena have done a remarkable thing in accepting responsibility for these brothers. Not only will Joey, Logan, and Noah now grow up together, but they’ll benefit from the immeasurable gift of being in a loving family. 

“It’s the first year and first holiday where it’s all permanent and true,” Lena said. “Now we can start dreaming about grade school, sports, and all those fun things,” added KC. 

Wow, what an inspiring story! And certainly one that’s bringing tears to my eyes.
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What makes Enzo the golden retriever different from other golden retrievers is his extraordinary birthmark. Enzo is a cute little cuddly and adorable doggo who was fortunate enough to find his forever home when he was just 2 years old. 

This doggo is also very friendly. Enzo suffers from a rare genetic mutation that highlights his presence and makes him stand out from the rest of the dogs. This genetic mutation has caused a huge black splotch around his eye area. Even though purebred golden retrievers generally have a single bright golden coat, this purebred has a birthmark that covers the left side of his face. 

This birthmark definitely adds to his beauty. Golden retrievers are normally born with a base black coat. It is the modifier gene in their body that gives them the golden color. Almost every golden retriever has this modifier gene. But in Enzo’s case, he had a slight stumble in his DNA and this erased the modifier gene on that left eye area of his face. 

This condition is rather rare and is known as pigmented somatic cell mutation. Nevertheless, this birthmark has made Enzo famous. 

He is an Instagram celebrity with around 195K followers. Although the doggo has no idea of how unique he is, he continues to live as any ordinary golden retriever would. People are fascinated with this dog and his interesting birthmark. Meanwhile, Enzo is on a mission to befriend the whole world. 

At times people confuse his breed and assume that he is a mutt because golden retrievers are solid-colored. Another unique fact about this doggo is that he is extremely big for his age. 

Follow him on Instagram to enjoy more of his pictures. His username is mister.enzoviola. Image Credit & More Info; mister.enzoviola
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  Gabe Botello, who works for Villa Pizza, says he was in the middle of a delivery around 3 a.m. when he spotted a very young girl alone in the cold. 

"I had people's food, so I ran to the door and I gave them their food," Botello told FOX 17. "I went back looking for her [and] I didn't find her, so I got in my car, I drove around for a minute. I didn't find her [so] I started pulling into parking lots." 

He eventually spotted the girl at a factory across the street. She was curled up between two cement blocks and wearing nothing but a t-shirt, diaper, and socks. Botello put his sweatshirt on her and called 911. "I had some water in my car, so she was drinking some water and I was just kind of like rubbing her back, letting her know she was okay and she started falling asleep," said Botello. 

"She was so just like exhausted and cold." Police were able to reunite the 3-year-old with her mother, who was unaware her daughter was missing and thought she was sleeping. It's unclear how the toddler got out and for how long, but the Grand Rapids Police Department believes it was an accident. 

Botello is just glad he was at the right place at the right time. "Sometimes you want to turn a blind eye but, you just never know [who] you're saving," said Botello. 

"Anybody could have picked up that little girl. In the middle of Ionia and Wealthy is not the best part of Grand Rapids, there's a lot of foot traffic over there, so, you know, I'm just glad she made it home. I'm glad she's okay."
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Fighting for animals rights is his first priority. A truly conservationist, Dolph is constantly raising awareness for endangered species. He spends his savings and his holidays working as a volunteer at the Cheetah Experience in South Africa. 

Over the years, the bighearted man made some great efforts to protect and conserve this species. By the time, these huge wild cats learned to love and respect Dolph. During one his trips, he was tired after a long day in the sun, so he decided to take a nap under a tree. 

That’s when a cheetah named Eden spotted Dolph. She walked up to him, sniffed him, and decided to cuddle with the harmless human. To say Dolph was surprised to find Eden when he woke up would be an understatement. And that was the beginning of their friendship. 

A beautiful, amazing, fascinating friendship. Eden looks at Dolph as if he belongs to the same species as her. She cuddles him, nibbles him, purrs and snuggles with him. The bond could not had been more adorable. In fact, Dolph is now being called “The Cheetah Whisperer” since he spends most of his time in cheetah’s company. This is the sweetest thing we’ve seen in a while. 

Take a peek:

 
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  Termitomyces titanicus. A rather fitting name for such a huge species. Image credit: Danny Newman
In Zambia, where mushroom-gathering is an important part of life, the Termitomyces titanicus is especially held in high regard. 

While the largest fungus (and organism) in the world is of the genus Armillaria and is currently consuming Oregon on 1,000 hectares, Termitomyces titanicus is the world’s largest edible mushroom, with a cap that can measure a little more than three feet (one meter) across. 

Interestingly, this giant mushroom species was unknown to Western science prior to 1980, despite its size and the fact it was a common item in native markets. This family living in Zambia purchased this giant specimen on the road to Lusaka, the capital city. Image credit: Words from the Wild
The name Termitomyces refers to how the mushroom grows inside a termite hill. The mushrooms in this genus have a symbiotic relationship with termites and grow on their fecal matter, breaking down plant material as food for them. 

Decayed mushroom tissue is another food source for the termites. In turn, the fungi associated with termites receive a steady supply of plant material, in a location with fine-tuned temperature and moisture content optimal for growth. The mushrooms are connected to the heart of a colony of fungal breeding termites. Image credit: Aanen and de Beer
But why does the mushroom grow so big? Well for one, it acquires a huge amount of resources from its insect mutualist, as termite colonies can reach densities in the millions, with countless individuals foraging for organic material to feed them. But it’s size is not only due the large amounts of energy it obtains: this horizontally transferred fungus must spread enough spores to be found by suitable termite species. 

In low producing savanna ecosystems, the distribution of termite mound may be quite patchy. So, to ensure that it gets a good chance at finding a suitable substrate, the fungus has evolved one of, if not the, largest mushrooms on the planet. The larger the mushroom, the more spores it produces, making it easier for initial termite foragers to actually find them. A Termitomyces titanicus found in a village outside Upemba National Park. Image credit: Blimeo
Titanicus grows in the winter during the rains, which is prime mushroom season in its habitat. It has a meaty texture and a savory, smoky taste which is considered to be particularly delicious. 

And a single cap can provide a full meal for an entire family…
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  Dogs can smell fear, but can they sniff out the truth? Your dog might actually be smarter than you're giving it credit for. It turns out, dogs are pretty good at picking up on human behavior. Science says so. 

A team led by Akiko Takaoka of Kyoto University in Japan conducted a study which found out that dogs actually know if you're to be believed or not. The study involved tricking dogs in the name of science. 

Humans have known for a long time that if you point at an object, a dog will run to it. Researchers utilized this information in their study. During the experiment, they pointed at a container that was filled with hidden food. Sure enough, the dog ran towards the container. 

Then, they pointed at a container that was empty. The dogs ran towards it, but found that it had no food. Photo by Toshi on Unsplash
The third time the researchers pointed at a container with food, the dogs refused to go to the container. They knew the person pointing wasn't reliable based off their previous experience. 

34 dogs were used in the experiment, and every single dog wouldn't go towards the container the third time. This experiment either proves that dogs can spot a liar or that dogs have major trust issues. In other words, if you lie to your dog, your dog forms the opinion that your word isn't good and will behave accordingly. 

"Dogs have more sophisticated social intelligence than we thought. This social intelligence evolved selectively in their long life history with humans," said Takaoka, who was also surprised that dogs were quick when they “devalued the reliability of a human." 

John Bradshaw of the University of Bristol in the UK, who wasn't involved in this study, says that the results indicate that dogs prefer predictability. When gestures are inconsistent, dogs tend to become nervous and stressed. 

The researchers have plans to repeat the experiment swapping out the dogs with wolves because wolves are closely related to dogs. The point of this isn't to get bitten by wolves, but rather, to see the "profound effects of domestication" on dogs.
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I know that I most surely would get out of the water in a flash. But, Bartolomeo Bove is no ordinary human being who is afraid of even the largest snake in the world. He is an underwater videographer and professional shark diver. 

This individual was determined enough to travel halfway around the world in order to have a swim with the green anaconda. Green anacondas are recognized as a predatory species that reside in swamps, marshes, and murky streams located in South America. 

However, the Formoso River in Brazil consists of crystal clear water, thus allowing humans to dive with anacondas. Bove and Juca Ygarape, his diving partner were fortunate enough to encounter one of these extraordinary creatures lurking in the water. 

Talking with whatzviral Bove said, “The anaconda filmed in the video is a massive 7 meters (23-feet) female weighing around 90 kilograms (200 lbs).” The giant nonvenomous anaconda appeared to be playful and took no notice of the men swimming nearby. 

The creature examined their camera and then swam away from the humans. “The anaconda swims calm and peaceful, completely indifferent to our presence. Sometimes she comes closer, curious about my camera, licking the lens,” conveyed Bove. 

This encounter contradicts the belief that anacondas are aggressive and violent creatures that are capable of harming humans. Anacondas need to be treated with care and respect. These fascinating creatures feed on local animals such as wild pigs, birds, capybaras, jaguars, and turtles. 

Their diet is the reason behind their massive size. The green anaconda wraps its gigantic body around the prey, squeezes and drowns the prey before gobbling up the whole animal. There is no question as to the fact that they are extremely strong predators. 

“The behavior of the anaconda debunks the myth that it is an aggressive and violent creature that can endanger people’s life. It is without a doubt an extremely strong predator and the largest of all snakes that can react if threatened or molested, to be treated with a lot of respect”. he expressed.

  Bove hopes that the video footage that he captured will prove to the world that green anacondas have a gentle side attached to them. 

“It was an unbelievable experience. No words can do justice to the sensations that I was really feeling during that experience,” he expressed. 

 Image/Video Credit & More Info; bartolomeobove/Instagram | facebook | youtube
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  Naturally, we get sad when our pets pass away. We cry all day and night, thinking about the times we shared with that pet. Moving on takes a lot of time. But that doesn’t mean that pets wouldn’t cry for us too. Our pets are capable of feeling emotions like happiness and sadness. 

Thus, when they find out that we’re gone, they would feel sad. Dogs would even whimper out loud even though his owner was just gone for only a few seconds. 

If we pass away, then they would also mourn the same way as us if it’s the other way around. This shelter dog did the same as soon as his owner passed away. This senior chihuahua named Scooter once belonged to a loving owner. However, when his owner passed away, everything changed for him. 

He has spent more than a decade with his previous owner, but he was hit by a massive shock when he knew that his owner is permanently gone. Scooter had a routine that they did before sleep. Spending such a long time together with his owner, you know that they have special activities and routines that only both of them know. 

For Scooter, it is for his owner to tuck him to sleep with his cherished star blanket. He always had a good night’s sleep with it, knowing that his owner was always there to keep him safe all the time. 

Sadly, he’s left all alone at the shelter this time. However, Scooter still remembered this special thing that they used to do. Even in the shelter, Scooter has kept with him his special star blanket. Only this time, he uses it to comfort himself by tucking himself inside his blanket. 

The most heartbreaking thing is, he cries while he’s inside it. He clearly misses his owner, but the only thing he could do now is to cherish the usual memory he had with his owner. The shelter was once doubtful about him being adopted. Since Scooter’s already 12 years old, the Humane Society of Branch County, a no-kill shelter in Michigan, was doubtful that people would take interest in him. 

However, when they saw this special moment of him crying himself to sleep, they thought that this will encourage people in giving him a chance to live the rest of his life in a proper home. 

Jan Nageldinger, manager of the shelter, shared the photograph online, and as expected, thousands of people teared up because of his story. One of them was an adopter of two chihuahuas. One of them was an adopter of two chihuahuas. Jessica Lynn Howard was one of the people who offered her hand to give the pooch his well-deserved home. “I saw Jan’s Facebook post, along with the rest of the world,” Jessica told The Dodo. 

“My husband Tim and I were lying in bed and it … brought me to tears. Without hesitation, I showed Tim and I said, ‘I have to go get him.'” The next morning, they were already driving to get him. After driving for a couple of hours, they finally got to meet the senior dog that tugged their hearts. They took him home and introduced him to the rest of the Chihuahua family. Scooter immediately felt welcome, and after a few days, he was already playing with his brothers and sisters, Jax, Hank, BabyFace, Spur, and Waylon. 

He’s now living the best life with Jessica, Tim, and the rest of the family. “It shows what one little senior dog can do. He moved an entire world with just a single post! That is beyond amazing,” Jessica said. 

We are so thankful that he found another loving family to take care and love him in his final years.