The elf owl is considered to be the smallest species of owl living in the world. In height, this bird is less than 6 inches tall and its weight is lower than an ounce and a half. So technically, this owl is similar to a tiny golf ball. 

Apparently, the elf owl is a cold-blooded hunter. When night arrives this bird comes out of its hollow in order to hunt for prey such as crickets, beetles, spiders, lizards, and even mice. Image Credit: Jordan Crouch Image Credit: Joshua Stewart
These merciless hunters are even not afraid to prey on poisonous creatures such as scorpions. After the stingers are removed, the scorpions are then stored in the nest to be consumed whenever they feel like it. 

You might come across the elf owl if you travel to woods and desert cactus environments located in the Southwest part of Texas and Southern Arizona. 

These birds generally reside in woodpecker holes made in the saguaro cactus in desert areas. Even though elf owls appear to be very silent, they are undoubtedly deadly. A rushing sound emanates when the air flows across the elf owl’s wings. 

The female of the species lays 1-4 eggs during spring and these eggs hatch in three weeks. In the beginning, the father elf owl goes hunting for food for the mother and chicks, but after some time the mother bird also joins the food hunting process. When attacked by predators such as great-horned owls, these birds attempt to escape instead of fight. They even play dead in order to avoid the threat posed to them by predators. 

During the month of October, elf owls leave the United States and migrate to Mexico because of the warmer latitude there and the abundance of insects.

When springtime arrives in Southwest America, these cute little owls return to start nesting season.
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Dontarius Caldwell was playing phone games with his younger sister, Diamond, while waiting for the school bus when his sister noticed a woman struggling to press the crosswalk button. His sister informed her older brother that she believed the woman was blind and that he should go and assist her. What he didn’t realize was that his actions would be captured on camera and broadcast across the country. 

“I told Dontarius that I think she blind, you should get up and go help her, and he got up and went to go help her cross the street two times while I waited for the bus to come,” Diamond explained. 

The freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio, approached the woman and asked if she needed assistance, to which she replied “yes” and took his hand. He then safely guided the elderly, blind lady across the street, while his sister waited for the school bus. The selfless teenagers didn’t think much of their actions, telling local media that they were simply raised to do the right thing. 

“I was just trying to help. I really didn’t think I would be on camera,” Dontarius told NBC’s WLWT5 News station. “I was just helping the elderly, giving a helping hand. The key word is helping hand. Everybody gotta get a helping hand,” he said. 

Dontarius was photographed assisting the woman, and the image was shared on social media. In just 24 hours, thousands of people saw it and applauded the teen for his actions. “If you be kind, what happens (to them) happens to you,” Dontarius said. 

As a reward for his kindness, Dontarius was given the key to the school.

 
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  The domestication of these animals goes back thousands and thousands of years, as early as 10,200 B.C. 

The reason behind this behavior is cats are inquisitive in nature. This is why they find fish tanks to be attractive. Fish tanks usually comprise a variety of bright colors and interesting movements that capture the gaze of many animals, especially cats. 

Cats perceive fish tanks to be a mode of entertainment, similar to a television. Jasper the cat, just like those of his species, is also a fan of fish tanks and he loves to observe fish. How unfortunate it is that scuba diving with cats is something that is yet to become a reality. 

This is why his human owners wanted him to experience the next closest thing and the best part is he does not have to get inside the tank at all. For quite some time, Jasper had to sit and watch his scaly buddies from outside the tank whenever he wanted to watch the colorful fishes in the fish tank at home. 

This did not allow him to fully immerse in the experience and it did not make Jasper feel completely involved. 

So, Jasper’s family came up with a brilliant idea to order a customized aquarium that consists of an underwater nook at the bottom of it. This ensured that the cat would get a 360-degree view of all his fish friends. According to the photographs it looked like Jasper loved the new aquarium very much. 

Photographs of him looking at his new view of the fishes show how happy he finally is. The fishes in the tank also do not seem to mind the cat peeping at them from the bottom of the tank. Jasper’s family was thoughtful enough to order a specialized aquarium just to entertain him. 

Their efforts did not go unrewarded as they got the opportunity to witness how much the cat was enjoying his new underwater view. 

 Image Credit & More Info; jasperthecatfish/instagram | twitter | reddit | facebook
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  Image credit: Kindai University
The young woolly mammoth was dug out of Siberian permafrost in 2011. With the species being extinct for about 4,000 years, finding such a relatively intact specimen was big news – particularly since this one was 28,000 years old. 

  One of the primary problems that older people face globally is loneliness, especially in urban areas where life is hectic and becoming more and more digital. In order to combat this from a very common front—the grocery store checkout—a Dutch business came up with an idea. 

In the depths of Colombia’s Caribbean region, there is a tree some mistakenly call ‘The Tree of Guacarí’, which was another enormous tree in the same area, rather similar in looks to the tree we are presenting now. Image credit: Eréndira Rodríguez
That tree, otherwise called the Samán of Guacarí, used to feature on Colombian 500 peso coins in the 90s. It was a Samanea saman, also sometimes known as a rain tree, and was cut down in 1989 as its thick branches began to detach. But the tree this article is about is different. It’s not another iconic Samanea saman, even though it really looks like it. 

No, it’s actually a Ficus, commonly known as fig tree – the popular ornamental plant you will find in gardens and homes all around the globe. And it has grown huge. Regarded as Columbia’s largest tree, the gigantic fig is so huge, in fact, that from a distance you could mistake it for a hill. Indeed, as you approach it, you get the sensation of being dwarfed until you feel really tiny. 

That’s just natural, though, as this giant is allegedly 30 meters high and 75 meters in diameter (we couldn’t find decisive proof but the images seem to underline this.) The tree has an incredibly beautiful foliage that looks like a green mountain, with branches that kiss the ground as if paying homage to Mother Earth. 

And not only do they kiss the earth, but they function as supports that the tree itself has generated, from aerial roots coming from the branches furthest from the trunk. A wonderful sight indeed. Under this colossal tree, one has the sensation of being in the basement of a great building, with many columns that support the giant mass, Viajar en Verano reports. 

Some people in Latin America call it ‘The Tree That Walks”, because of its ‘feet’ with which it ensures its expansion. Indeed, the pillars it has grown are like limbs through which it advances to cover a larger area with its branches to receive the sun’s rays more directly or find more fertile land to feed on. 

Even more interestingly, the Tree of San Marcos is not a tree. It’s several trees. Historian Raúl Ospino Rangel gives a splandid description of how the green mass was formed. 

It all started when in 1964 the owner of the Alejandría farm wanted to protect a yellow cedar tree that he had planted. They placed six fig tree rods around the sapling to prevent the cattle from damaging the young cedar. 

But the opposite happened: instead of giving security to the cedar tree, the fig tree struts sprouted buds and then branches, which eventually ended up absorbing and devouring the yellow cedar.

So the ‘Giant Fig of San Marcos’ is not just one, but six different plants that were joined and strengthened by aerial roots with which they formed supports on the ground. 

If you ever happen to travel to the Atlantic coast of Colombia, be sure to visit San Marcos and let yourself be embraced by the shadowy extremities of ‘The Most Beautiful Tree in Colombia’. 

You will definitely see it from afar – about three kilometers before entering the Alejandría farm, you can get the first glimpse of the gigantic ‘green mountain’. Image credit: Antonio Sáez
Protected by the branches of this tree, one feels small, but also enriched by its powerful energy. Let’s hope it will stand for a long time to come.
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The breathtaking drone footage was captured in 2019 as part of the Raine Island Recovery Project, which aims at preserving the remote coral cay. 

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) populations using the area to reproduce have been decreasing due to loss of habitat and overfishing, and are now listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Scientists on the island are busy rebuilding nesting beaches and putting up fences to prevent turtle deaths for the 60,000+ female green turtles that come to to lay eggs here every year in one of “greatest animal migrations” on planet Earth. 

“We’re seeing the world’s largest aggregation of green turtles captured in these extraordinary drone images that are helping to document the largest turtle numbers seen since we began the Raine Island Recovery Project,” said Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden.

  Since 1984, scientists have been marking thousands of green turtles with paint – a difficult and time-consuming task – before visually counting individual animals and thus making a sound estimate of their populations on Raine Island. 

“Previous population survey methods involved painting a white stripe down the green turtles’ shell when they were nesting on the beach. The paint is non-toxic and washes off in a couple of days,” explained Dr Andrew Dunstan from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science in a statement. 

“From a small boat, we then counted painted and non-painted turtles, but eyes are attracted much more to a turtle with a bright white stripe than an unpainted turtle, resulting in biased counts and reduced accuracy.” In December 2019, scientists used drones to find out whether more technologically advanced strategies might be more efficient. 

The team then analyzed the footage in the lab frame-by-frame to count the turtles and compare the results to those from underwater Go-Pro footage. They concluded that drone use is the “most efficient survey method,” plus it’s also safer, more accurate, and makes permanent data storage possible. Here’s another great video explaining the counting method.

Researchers also determined that surface observers “consistently reported higher proportions of marked turtles” than either the drone or the underwater method, yielding higher population estimates that may have skewed conservation efforts. 

But that’s no longer the case. The Raine Island Recovery Project has already reported a 100% increase in hatchling rates as science and technology combine on the Great Barrier Reef. 

Check out this other amazing video of the nesting turtles.

  Raine Island, which is also home to the oldest European structure in tropical Australia, a stone beacon built in 1844, is an important environmental icon which is totally protected from public access. 

Let’s hope it stays that way.
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But it’s also the time when you want to make your pet’s days extra special: knowing they might not have much more time left, you want to let them see the world and make memories with them. 

And some owners find special ways to help their old dogs get around. Like one man, who found a very unique way to take his dying dog on one unforgettable final trip. Carlos Fresco would go everywhere with his 10-year-old Labradoodle, Monty. 

The dog would accompany him on countless hikes and walks. But after Monty was diagnosed with leukemia, he knew the dog’s days were numbered.

 

“I knew Monty was dying as his cancer had returned,” Carlos told SWNS. “He was diagnosed 18 months ago and responded very well to chemotherapy. But unfortunately his leukemia returned eight weeks ago and he declined very rapidly.” 

But Carlos still wanted to have one great adventure with Monty, by taking him to one of their favorite hiking spots: the Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, in Wales. But while Monty was no stranger to hikes, his declining health made it harder to get around. 

Carlos worried that his dog might not be able to reach the top. So, he improvised. He helped his friend climb the hill… in a wheelbarrow!

Together, they climbed the hill. The wheelbarrow got the attention of many fellow hikers. Carlos says that many “shed a tear” and expressed sympathy when they learned of Monty’s situation, even offering to help push him up the hill. 

“That little guy touched so many lives,” Carlos told SWNS. “Made everyone he came into contact with smile and just take a moment to reflect how sometimes life’s not that bad.” He also says that Monty loved all the fuss and attention on his adventure.

  It proved to be the dog’s final journey: Monty passed away on June 21. While no doubt sad about the loss of his dog, Carlos was grateful for the unforgettable final trip they had together, and thanked everyone moved by his story for their sympathy. 

Rest in peace, Monty. We’re so glad you got one last adventure with your loving owner.
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These creatures are generally stout-bodied, have small furry ears, short stocky legs, wide feet, and their tails are shorter than their body length. Their silky and thick fur comes in the colors of grey, honey, black, brown, white, red, yellow, or mixed, and this varies according to the species. Although hamsters are very flexible animals, their bones are known to be rather fragile. 

These creatures are highly vulnerable to changes in temperature, extreme cold, and extreme heat. Hamsters are animals with poor eyesight, but their other senses function properly. These omnivores eat vegetables as well as meat. Wild hamsters feed on grass, seeds, and insects. 

Did you know that hamsters love to eat peanut butter? Yes, you heard me right. But it should be done in a careful manner, without letting it get stuck on their cheeks. Pet hamsters should not be fed junk food, sugary food, salty food, and chocolate. 

It is important to add vegetables and fruits into their diet in order to keep them healthy.

  These adorable little creatures are recognized as food hoarders. They hold food inside their spacious cheek pouches and take them to their underground storage units. 

Most hamsters are known to be solitary animals. There is a possibility of chronic stress occurring when housed together. The golden hamster is very famous as a commonly kept pet. Recently we came across video footage of a Japanese hamster eating a carrot in bed, under a blanket. 

It is the most adorable thing on the internet today. This cute creature named Mike, munching on a piece of carrot, is sure to melt your heart. He is undoubtedly enjoying his bedtime snack.

  The video went viral because of how cute the little creature looks and how cute his munching looks. He is definitely stealing the hearts of everyone around the world. 

 Video Credit & More info: mikesanman19/youtube
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This curious scene caught Myla Aguila’s eye, a woman who lives in Quezon Province, the Philippines and thankfully, she quickly captured this precious moment on her camera. Aguila was walking around the mountainous Sitio Madaguldol village near her home when she spotted a young boy squatting atop a small hill off the road. 

It turned out that the young boy was facing a little problem – one of his flip-flops had dropped down the small slope and was now out of reach. Although the boy could easily have climbed down to take it, the kind duck got there first and retrieved the flip-flop for him. Instead of clambering down through the mud, he watched as the white duck picked up his white rubber flip-flop. 

Aguila couldn’t believe her eyes because ducks are known as stupid creatures, which are usually raised for commercial purposes, mainly because of their eggs. However, this smart duck in this video makes us think again. 

“I was dumbfounded. The duck is kind. He really helped, even though he doesn’t know the child,” Aguila wrote online. 

“I asked around, and people told me that the duck is not owned by the boy. But they come from that same small village so they must be friends,” Aguila said. Watch the remarkable video here!

  As you can see in the video, the determined duck drops the flip-flop three times but it doesn’t give up and keeps picking it back up in its beak. 

Finally, the duck reaches to the top and returns the slipper to the boy. ”I thought it was very sweet the way the duck kept picking up the shoe and giving it back to him.” 

“There is a feeling like a person,” she wrote, adding: “I will feel mercy on them because of what I saw.” 

If you love this video, let’s share it with your friends and family members!
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And the gorilla in this post is a great example that will show you how affectionate and smart animals are. Meet Pikin, a poor gorilla who was rescued by the group Ape Action Africa from being captured by hunters. She was so frightened that the rescuers had to give her sedatives to move her from one enclosure to another. 

When the sedatives wore off, Pikin awoke in the car. But amazingly, instead of being angry and scared, she was affectionate and calm in the arms of Appolinaire Ndohoudou, a man who joined in the rescue. He has dedicated his whole life to helping and protecting wild animals, especially gorillas in Cameroon. The tender moment between Appolinaire and the gorilla was captured by the talented photographer Jo-Anne McArthur. The captivating photo shows Pikin embracing the man after realizing that she was rescued and safe. 

Needless to say, the photo melted everyone’s heart, and was chosen as the People’s Choice Awards winner for Wildlife Photograph of the Year. 

“I’m so thankful that this image resonated with people, and I hope it might inspire us all to care a little bit more about animals. No act of compassion towards them is ever too small,” McArthur said. 

“I regularly document the cruelties animals endure at our hands, but sometimes I bear witness to stories of rescue, hope and redemption. Such is the case with the story of Pikin and Appolinaire, a beautiful moment between friends.” The Natural History Museum in London hosts this photography competition every year, and officials there were also impressed by the image. 

“Jo-Anne’s inspirational image is a symbol of humanity’s power to protect the world’s most vulnerable species and shape a more sustainable future for life on our planet,” said Director Sir Michael Dixon. 

“Photographs like Jo-Anne’s are a reminder that we can make a difference, and we all have a part to play in addressing our impact on the natural world.” 

Do animals have enough self awareness to understand they are being helped?
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Poor Tamarack’s paws were singed in the flames and required treatment. Thankfully, he was taken into a wildlife care facility to get the care he needed. But Tamarack was a free bear and he needed to live that way. So, he escaped the facility to go back to the wilderness where he belongs. 

This little cub literally escaped an enclosure and then tunneled under an electric fence. That’s how much he wanted to be free. Sielsch catches glimpses of Tamarack through trail cameras that are located throughout the forest near his house. And footage shows that the little bear is doing just fine all on his own. Actually, better than fine. 

Not only is he able to survive out there all on his own and provide himself with basic necessities, but he’s also got toys. Sielsch even caught Tamarack taking a bath in a big puddle with a friend. That friend was a plastic toy bear figure. And no one knows where the little toy bear came from. 

The video shows Tamarack jumping into the puddle with his muddy paws poking out and grabbing up his little bear as it bobs up and down out of the water. This certainly warmed Sielsch’s heart. “I thought how it was almost a perfect example of the playfulness of not only young black bears, but all of them,” Sielsch told The Dodo. 

Sielsch was overjoyed knowing that Tamarack was out there living his best life after everything he went through. “It makes my heart very happy to have watched his progress against all odds as an orphaned and healing cub of the year, now yearling,” Sielsch said. 

“It shows just how tenacious wildlife is when it comes to survival.” Check out Tamarack’s bathtime with his toys in the video below.

 
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