And animals are much more caring than humans could ever be. Katjinga is a Rhodesian Ridgeback breed dog, and Paulinchen is an absolutely lovely, bellied two-week-old young sow who lost her mother but was thankfully adopted by Katjinga when she decided to adopt her. 

According to a Facebook post, park rangers in park rangers in Thap Lan National Park, in Thailand, discovered six young elephant calfs that were trapped in mud pits. 

It was apparent that a herd of wild elephants had passed through the area when the young ones got stuck, and the adult elephants were waiting for the calfs, but they were unable to get out of the mud by themselves.

  The park rangers then decided to get involved and help the elephants get out of the mud. However, they couldn’t do anything immediately: they didn’t have the right equipment on them, and it was getting late. 

So instead, one of the rangers kept an eye on the elephants overnight, and they returned the next morning with the gear.

  Using the equipment the park rangers dug a ramp so the elephants were able to climb out of the mud pit. All six climbed out, all safe and in good condition, and they rejoined their herd. 

And it was all thanks to these park rangers who went above-and-beyond to help.

  We’re so glad these elephants are safe! Thank you to these park rangers who went out of the way to help them get to safety!
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This beautiful big dog was rejected by his family because he had a cancerous tumor growing on his head and only had a few weeks left to live. 

Thankfully Luciano Karosas, from Berazategui in Buenos Aires, welcomed Thanos into his home so he could live out his days with unconditional love. luciianokarosas/Instagram/Unilad
While waiting to be adopted the sick pup had already been rejected by four families because of his illness. 

The 21-year-old couldn’t resist giving this dog all the love during his final weeks after hearing how many families had dumped him, unable to cope with his illness. As well has suffering such a cruel illness, Thanos had to deal with the constant rejection and being taken back to the animal shelter by four different families who found they couldn’t cope with the sick dog. 

“I came out with a piece of my heart in my hand,” he told Portal Amigo Cao. Not only did Luciano want to make Thanos’ last days as comfortable as possible, he also tried to save him and took him to his local veterinary clinic to find out if they could remove the tumor. “I found it hard to adapt to the idea of how little time we will spend together,” he said, according to Unilad. “I took him to a stem cell veterinarian to see what we could do, looking for a little more hope (which had given him 40 days to live) and told me that there is no treatment that extends that time.” 

Following the heartbreaking news that nothing could be done, Luciano simply decided the two would make the most out of what limited time Thanos had left. 

Thanos was given all the love and pampering during his final weeks but eventually this cruel illness took over and he passed away earlier this year. Taking to social media to pay tribute to his four-legged friend Luciano wrote: “I will love you forever.” I can’t believe this sweet dog was rejected by so many families in his hour of need. All he needed was some extra love as this awful disease took over. 

I’m glad he’s no longer in pain. Please share to pay tribute to the big-hearted Luciano who took Thanos in and loved him as he deserved. Rest in peace Thanos.
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In the case of the Paraná, one of the most exciting discoveries was made at its delta: an island 120 meters in diameter, almost completely circular in shape, and floating freely on its axis. Image credit: Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos
So-called floating islands are found in many parts of the world, including Finland, Turkey, Italy, Serbia, the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine, Lake Titicaca on the border between Bolivia and Peru, Lake Loktak in India, and many other places. 

However, this Argentinean island stands out from the rest because of its shape and its continuous rotation. Floating islands are usually based on large roots that have ended up in the water and on which some other aquatic plant starts to grow. 

Plants found along the shoreline of wetlands often spread inwards from the shore, to where their roots no longer reach the deeper parts of the lake or river. 

When this happens, they use the oxygen in their root mass as buoyancy and the surrounding vegetation as support to survive in the water.

However, occasional violent storms can tear away these floating islands of vegetation, which can then be carried back and forth across the lake by the wind. 

Usually, they find calm somewhere again along the shoreline or break up completely due to stronger winds. In some cases, however, the floating islands may persist for longer periods. In the aforementioned Lake Titicaca, for example, a group of 120 islands has been taken by an indigenous tribe, the Uru, but these islands require constant maintenance to survive. 

The unusual piece of land known only as “El Ojo” (Eye Island) was formed by some very special currents that keep the circular island in constant motion. 

As it collides with its surroundings, it repeatedly detaches the muddy bits that might have given it a rest. The island itself was just recently discovered by Argentine filmmaker Sergio Neuspiller, who was looking for a location for one of his films about paranormal phenomena when he came across the island in the delta. 

He didn’t know at the time that the piece of land was spinning around slowly – he only found out when he returned to the site shortly afterwards and was surprised to see that the island had moved elsewhere in the meantime. 

The movement can also be seen in Google satellite images taken at different times. The recordings also prove that the island has been in the Paraná delta for almost 20 years, since 2003. Neuspiller got preoccupied with the question of the rotating island later, around 2016, when he, together with an engineer from New York, started raising funds to find out what’s behind the phenomenon. 

They wanted to collect 50,000 dollars to solve the mystery, but since not even a fifth of the amount came together, their investigation, which would have also covered the supernatural, was not completed. What a shame.
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He bought a grand piano for a child prodigy using his father’s inheritance, according to PEOPLE. It all started when 11-year-old Jude Nyame Yie Kofie's father heard his son playing the piano. 

He had never been taught to play the piano but he was playing like a pro. The video of him playing the piano went viral on YouTube. In the video, he surprises his father with "hidden musical mastery." 

He shot into the spotlight as he was featured on Denver’s ABC 7, where he showcased his talent and his mastery of the piano. Once the show got over, the station got a call from Magnusson. 

He was in awe of Kofie’s talent and wanted to support the child to see him grow as a musician. Magnusson said that this child is “Mozart level.” "And he deserves the very best."

It's not every day that you come downstairs and discover that your son is a savant!

Jude Nyame Yie Kofie, 11, surprised his father one morning when he heard his son playing the keyboards as if he had taken lessons for years 🎹🎼 @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/0ALvKwE7ZI

— Danny New (@DannyNewTV) September 21, 2022

Soon, Magnusson bought Kofie a grand piano using the money he received as an inheritance from his father. He said that he knew that his father would have also loved to help such a child. 

Kofie’s father told the news station that there was no way he could have been able to buy his son a grand piano and had never imagined that a piano would be in his living room. 

 For Magnusson, it was “like looking at the face of God.” He added, “It really is.”

 

Boulder's Jude Nyame Yie Kofie, 11, went viral for suddenly sitting down at the family's keyboard and playing anything he heard. Now Bill Magnusson is buying Jude a grand piano, recruiting the perfect teacher and forming a bond with the whole family. https://t.co/lrVhYcXQkA

— Jassa Skott (@JassaSkott) December 28, 2022

Moreover, Magnusson got Kofie a piano teacher called Mr. Sullivan. He is from the same hometown as Kofie and they have been bonding well. 

"He's so eager," Sullivan told the station. "He's so hungry to learn more. "The ripple effects for the next 70 or 80 years are incalculable," Magnusson said. "It's not just for him. It's for all the people he's going to touch."

11-year-old pianist Jude Nyame Yie Kofie playing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” pic.twitter.com/nN3KsvYIPI

— Dust-to-Digital (@dusttodigital) October 30, 2022

Talking about the prodigy, a 5-year-old Alberto Cartucccia Cingolan, in Italy, stunned his audience with a rendition of Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major composed by Mozart. The performance was posted on Twitter and has more than 5 million views. 

Alberto was introduced to the piano when he was just 3 years old. He started with simple practice lasting 10 minutes long and has now become a piano prodigy, as reported by MyModernMet. The child’s mother is a singing instructor and the father works as a teacher in the Lombardy region. 

When they first introduced Alberto to the piano, they saw his natural affinity to the piano. He is still learning to read music but has the ability to identify and recreate any musical note.

  Alberto's mother Alessia Cingolani said, "He started playing during the months of the first lockdown.” "I was always at home, so we started playing with a small keyboard, in order to do something stimulating. 

Unfortunately, as development grew the butterflies began to fade away. Nowadays, you rarely see them. But thankfully, a 28-year-old aquatic biologist at the California Academy of Sciences, Tim Wong, is single-handedly taking action to repopulate this beautiful creature, and he’s doing it all in his own backyard. Various stage of pipevine swallowtail growth (from bottom: eggs, different growth stages of the caterpillar, chrysalis, full butterfly). Credit: Tim Wong
Butterfly collectors consider the wings from the California pipevine swallowtail — or, Battus philenor hirsuta, to be the most magnificent in North America. 

These beauties start their life-cycle as tiny red eggs that hatch into a very large orange-speckled caterpillar; then it has a gestation period of up to two years, finally, it emerges as a beautiful blue butterfly glimmering with oceanic tones. 

On a normal day, Wong works in the science museum taking care of 38,000 animals, including albino alligators, Japanese stingrays, and octopuses. In his free time, he is devoted to raising butterflies and taking care of the garden from where they eat. 

Since he was a child, he became very intrigued and passionate about these creatures. He would spend his days in an open meadow near his home, catching, studying, and raising any butterflies that he could find. Wong said: I first was inspired to raise butterflies when I was in elementary school. We raised painted lady butterflies in the classroom, and I was amazed at the complete metamorphosis from caterpillar to adult. 

Therefore, it’s no surprise that once he learned about how increasingly rare the pipevine swallowtail had become in San Francisco he made it his personal mission to bring the butterfly back. Wong started by researching the butterfly extensively. He discovered that when the butterfly is in caterpillar form, it only feeds on one plant – the California pipevine (Aristolochia californica). This plant is exceptionally rare to spot in the city, so it wasn’t easy to find when he went on a search for it. 

“Finally, I was able to find this plant in the San Francisco Botanical Garden [in Golden Gate Park] and they allowed me to take a few clippings of the plant,” Wong said. Once he had his plant clippings, using self-taught techniques, he managed to create the most incredible butterfly paradise in his backyard. 

Wong explains how he built this paradise: [I built] a large screen enclosure to protect the butterflies and to allow them to mate under outdoor environmental conditions — natural sun, airflow, temp fluctuations. 

The specialized enclosure protects the butterflies from some predators, increases mating opportunities, and serves as a study environment to better understand the criteria female butterflies are looking for in their ideal host plant. Caterpillars pupate into chrysalises, remaining in this state for up to several years before emerging as butterflies. While inside, their bodies liquefy and reform as completely new creatures. Credit: Tim Wong
Once his paradise was complete the next step was for him to find some caterpillars. Wong managed to find a group of 20 caterpillars outside the city from private residences that had lots of vegetation. 

He brought them back to his backyard and released them onto the plants to feed. “They feed as a little army. They roam around the pipevine plant from leaf to leaf, munching on it as a group,” he said. About 3-4 weeks later, the caterpillar pupates and forms an outer shell known as a chrysalis. 

Inside that shell, the insect liquefies itself and either develops into a butterfly in around two weeks or stays dormant for up to two years. When the butterfly is in this delayed development stage, it’s called diapause.

  The adult pipevine butterfly usually hatches from its chrysalis in spring, but sometimes can be spotted flying around from February to October. 

The creatures usually live for only two to five weeks, depending on temperature, predation, and food availability. During its short life, the females spend it laying their eggs on the pipevine plants. 

According to Wong, they typically lay their eggs in clusters of five to 30, which he carefully collects and incubates them indoors, away from predators like spiders and earwigs. 

“From there, the cycle continues,” he said. Once the eggs hatch, Wong raises the caterpillars at home, then brings them to the San Francisco Botanical Garden’s “California Native” exhibit. He has been doing this same routine for years already and has successfully introduced thousands of caterpillars to the garden. 

While other conservationists have succeeded in repopulating the pipevine butterfly in Santa Cruz and Sonoma, none have been successful in San Francisco. Tim Wong’s backyard butterfly enclosure includes the California pipevine plant, along with other native flora, to make the butterflies feel at home. Credit: Tim Wong
Wong said: Each year since 2012, we’ve seen more butterflies surviving in the garden, flying around, laying eggs, successfully pupating, and emerge the following year. That’s a good sign that our efforts are working! 

Wong’s actions can teach us all a lesson about how we too can help species such as this butterfly to repopulate all on our very own. While he does caution that raising butterflies takes a lot of work and special understanding of each species’ natural history, there are still much simpler ways that we can contribute. 

It’s as simple as restoring native habitats to flourish and boost endemic butterfly populations and other local species. For example, by planting native flora host plants, weeding (to allow easier access to food sources) and avoiding pesticides.
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  Image credit: Project Noah
The bagworm moth, also known as case moth, in the family of Psychidae, belongs to the insect order of the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). 
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It can grow to up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in width from the tip of one leg to the tip of another. It is found on islands across the Indian Ocean, and parts of the Pacific Ocean as far east as the Gambier Islands, Pitcairn Islands and Caroline Island, similar to the distribution of the coconut palm. 

It has been extirpated from most areas with a significant human population, including mainland Australia and Madagascar. Coconut crabs also live off the coast of Africa near Zanzibar. They have an acute sense of smell which they use to find potential food sources, and which has developed convergently with that of insects. 

Adult coconut crabs feed primarily on fleshy fruits, nuts, seeds, and the pith of fallen trees, but they will eat carrion and other organic matter opportunistically. 

Anything left unattended on the ground is a potential source of food, which they will investigate and may carry away – thereby getting the alternative name of "robber crab". Mating occurs on dry land, but the females return to the edge of the sea to release their fertilized eggs, and then retreat back up the beach. 

The larvae that hatch are planktonic for 3–4 weeks, before settling to the sea floor, entering a gastropod shell and returning to dry land. Sexual maturity is reached after about 5 years, and the total lifespan may be over 60 years. 

In the 3–4 weeks that the larvae remain at sea, their chances of reaching another suitable location is enhanced if a floating life support system avails itself to them. Examples of the systems that provide such opportunities include floating logs and rafts of marine or terrestrial vegetation. 

Similarly, floating coconuts can be a very significant part of the crab's dispersal options.[4] Fossils of this crab date back to the Miocene.
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Raymond Nelson, who is the student support specialist at a school in South Carolina, has formed a "Gentlemen's Club" for fifth graders. Every Wednesday. 

Nelson teaches them basic life lessons and helps them dress for success, reported CBS News. Nelson is keen to be a father figure to the at-risk kids in the community. Nelson, who's a teacher at Memminger Elementary in Downtown Charleston, says the club's motto is: "Look good, feel good, do good." 

Nelson believes a good part of your confidence comes from wearing good clothes and knowing how to present yourself and act around other people. Close to 60 students turn up at Memminger Elementary School every Wednesday. 

He is keen to teach kids similar invaluable life skills that will stand them in good stead in the future. "I was thinking maybe if I have the boys dress for success," Nelson told WCSC-TV. 

"When was the last time you saw someone fighting in a tuxedo?" They also get life lessons like cleaning their neighborhood and watering plants.

  He is aware that many of them don't have the support they need, at home. Nelson said that he wants to guide them. 

"I know a lot of them struggle because a lot of them don't have men at home, so I just want them to grow up and think of the things that I teach them," said Nelson. "They like the reaction of walking up to classrooms and say, 'Oh, you look so nice and handsome,' they just love it." 

Nelson himself benefitted from one such group, where he had joined at the request of his mother. "It helped me to be a better man and I could spread the knowledge to the young boys," he said.

 

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"Gentleman's club is not just teaching you how to be a gentleman. Love who you are and accept yourself for who you are and not let anybody get in the way of that," says one student. Another said, "It teaches you to respect others and treat them how you want to be treated." 
The club was first started by school principal Mark Adams. It's our responsibility to prepare them for the next level," said Adams. 
Nelson also collects donated jackets, vests, and ties at school for the kids who don't have their own. He adds that half the journey is just someone showing belief in them. "A lot of my students perform well when they know someone cares about them," said Nelson. 
The student support specialist believes showing respect to others and knowing how to conduct yourself is what drives home your personality and paves way for your success. Some of the topics Nelson teaches them include showing them how to shake hands, make eye contact, open doors, and address their elders. 
Pictures from one session show them suited up and dining inside what looks like a classroom. They are served a gourmet three-course meal twice a year. 
At the core of his lessons are their responses to women, including their sisters, mothers, and their teachers. 
He said many of the boys are at that young age where they believe rumors that girls have 'cooties.' He wants to help them to understand and be more respectful towards women. 
The Gentleman's Club has become a success in the local community and now Charleston County School District officials are trying to replicate the success at other local schools and planning to introduce Gentleman's programs in their schools.  Source

Whether it be an adventure to the park or learning to crawl, the moments they share together are simply priceless. Just look at these two — the perfect park buddies! Because it’s always more fun with a friend by your side. Then when it’s time to go home, time to cuddle up together and lie down for a nap! Dogs are also amazing teachers. This helpful pooch is showing his human sibling how to crawl! It won’t be long until these two are running around and playing hide-and-seek together. Simply put, dogs make amazing companions for kids, and kids make amazing companions for dogs. Watch this video compilation of kids growing up with their dog best friends and try not to smile. 

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Despite the misconception that they are very frightened or aggressive, these huge lugs are often sweethearts that will adore you no matter what. Petey the dog is an excellent illustration of this. He eventually got his forever home after spending almost a year in a shelter. His new family even posted a photo of Petey sleeping with a smile on his face after moving in to add to the motivation. 

Petey, a joyful dog with an eyepatch-like spot, had run out of time in a small overcrowded shelter and had no prospective adopters waiting for him. The staff then contacted the SPCA of Wake County to assist him in finding his permanent family at that time, according to My Modern Met. 

Despite these changes, Petey never lost his enthusiasm for the transfer. “As soon as he got here, he was yanking on the leash trying to get through the door. He bounded into the building,” recalls Samantha Ranlet, spokesperson for the SPCA of Wake County. 

“He was super friendly from day one and very playful. We couldn’t believe that nobody wanted him.” The SPCA employees shared a photo of him on social media along with his adoption status. 

Petey had found his permanent home in just a few weeks after his adopters fell in love with his adorable face and couldn't wait to meet him. He has since moved in with his family, which includes another puppy.

"Petey is settling in perfectly in his new home," a member of his new family cheerfully wrote, alongside photos of him with his human parents and his dog brother, Adikus. 

Just like Petey, another cute pittie puppy won't stop smiling in an animal shelter. Layla, a 7-week-old puppy, was picked up by Beaumont Animal Care in Texas after being seen running across traffic alone.

She was fragile and scared at first, but she utterly shocked the personnel soon after arriving at the shelter. 

When tech Rachel Barron approached her kennel and started talking to the small dog, she flashed a beautiful grin.

 

“When I began to speak in a baby talk kind of voice she absolutely loved it,” Barron told The Dodo. “She began wagging her tail and then boom, the famous smile. That is when I pulled out my phone to get it on video. It was too cute not to share.” 

Layla seemed to know she was in excellent hands, according to Barron, and the small puppy won hearts across the world with her sweet smile. Nicole Toney and her husband, who already have three rescue dogs and two cats, felt Layla would be a wonderful addition to their family straight immediately. 

Little Layla rapidly warmed up to the Toneys, and they were authorized to bring her home shortly after. Layla immediately began playing and running about with the other dogs, as if she was supposed to be there all along.

 

“Lady immediately wanted to be near Layla,” Toney said. “Lady was a mom and had just given birth when she was rescued, and so she was really drawn to Layla.” 

Layla appears to be drawn to the other animals as well, which is possibly due to her lack of companionship when living on the street by herself. 

“She’s really settling in so well,” Toney said. “She’ll cuddle right next to my husband’s face and fall asleep. She’s such a sweetheart and we noticed she even smiles when she's asleep.”
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But no, it is just how these black rain frogs appear. These frogs are native to the Southern Coast of Africa. They live in burrowed tunnels that are around 6 inches deep. What makes the African rain frog unique is its ability to stretch up to a maximum of two inches long, despite being tiny in size. 

These frogs belong to a burrowing species that reside in forest fringes. This is why they do not need to be in the presence of open water in order to survive. 

Whenever these creatures feel threatened, they puff up and take on an aggressive pose by expanding its body. Image Credit: Delport Botma | facebook
The African rain frog puffs up while it burrows because the increased body size will make it hard for predators that attempt to drag the creature out of its hole. 

In the mating season, the female African rain frog discharges a sticky substance to prevent the male from falling off its back. This phenomenon is known as adhesive amplexus. Image Credit: 22sect This depicts how the female does not want to let go of the male rain frog. I guess in modern times we call it being loyal. 

When the female lays eggs inside the burrow, the male remains within the burrow guarding the eggs until the baby African rain frogs come into this world.
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In 2020, the Gentle Barn, founded by Ellie Laks and Jay Weiner, adopted a calf, who had just become an orphan. 

They had rescued him from a slaughterhouse, where his mother did not survive. He was only a week old. They named him John Lewis Thunderheart because he was also a fighter.

 

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When Lewis arrived at The Gentle Barn, he wasn’t in the best of health.“He had severe pneumonia. He had loud, raspy breathing. He had a deep cough. He had an extremely high temperature,” Ellie said.

And because of the stressful environment he was born in, Lewis did not get enough colostrum to build a stronger immune system. That’s why when he contracted pneumonia, he fought for his life. 

They knew he wouldn’t be able to survive living in the barn so they brought him inside their air-conditioned home. He needed a clean and cool environment and this way, they’ll be able to look after him 24/7.

 

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There was also another animal who lived inside the house who would turn out to be such a big blessing for Lewis. His name is Sky. The Gentle Barn adopted Sky from his previous owner who couldn’t keep up with his energy level. 

They weren’t supposed to adopt him but they discovered that Sky was a great therapy dog. He makes people laugh, he can soften the hearts of people with anger issues, and he’s able to calm those who are nervous.

  That’s why he was the perfect companion for Lewis while he healed. “Sky protected him, soothed him, and would lay down right next to him and curl up beside him,” Ellie described. 

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When Lewis was strong enough to go outside, that’s when they saw Lewis and Sky had formed a strong relationship. 

“They run all over the yard and tussle. Sky is very mouthy like a puppy and Lewis wonky like a cow, but somehow they make it work and understand each other,” Ellie shared. 

And when Ellie brought Lewis around the farm for walks and to meet the other cows, Sky was also there with them to help Lewis adjust to this new life at the farm.

 

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When they brought in Lewis, he was only 50lbs at a week old. Now, he’s two years old and weighs more than a thousand pounds. He’s now much, much bigger than Sky. 

They’re not as physical anymore with each other because they know there’s a big weight difference between the two of them. 

But it doesn’t stop them from showing their love for each other. Lewis will lay down on the ground and Sky will be all over him. He’ll lick Lewis and lay down beside him.

 

“Watching Lewis and Sky together, there’s so much to be grateful for. What I enjoy the most is no matter how old or big they get, their love still continues,” Ellie said of their relationship. 

“To us, we see a dog and cow. But to John Lewis and Sky, they just see friends, they see family, they see love.” Feel the caring love between these two when you watch the video below.

 
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