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Wildlife

Officials say they made the decision to euthanize hundreds of koalas for the creatures' welfare after a bushfire in Victoria.

Authorities Snipe Hundreds of Koalas From Helicopters in Controversial ‘Aerial Cull’ in Australia

Between 600 and 700 of the marsupials were killed from the air, likely for the first time in the country’s history. Officials say the decision, which has prompted backlash, was made to minimize the animals’ suffering after a bushfire

Bleached coral on the Great Barrier Reef

The Worst Bleaching Event on Record Is Hitting Most of the World’s Coral Reefs

Scientists are alarmed by the ongoing crisis, with deteriorating conditions harming marine life in the tropics and beyond

European gray wolves in Germany

Why Have European Wolves Recovered So Much in the Past Decade?

The predators have increased by almost 60 percent on the continent

Trevelyan is a former puppet maker, so making the curlew costume was relatively easy for him.

A U.K. Man Just Walked 53 Miles Wearing a Giant, Handmade Bird Costume. Here’s Why He Did It

As he trekked across the English countryside, 46-year-old Matt Trevelyan caused quite a stir with his attention-grabbing outfit

For the first time known to scientists, a team has documented chimps sharing alcoholic fruit.

Watch Wild Chimpanzees Share Alcoholic Fruit, a Behavior Just Captured on Video for the First Time

Though the reason behind this action is unclear, researchers suggest socially consuming alcohol may have offered evolutionary benefits to a common ancestor of both humans and chimps

A variety of marine creatures and unique features can be found in the deep sea off Norway, including the dumbo octopus, colorful anemones and venting chimneys.

As Norway Considers Deep-Sea Mining, a Rich History of Ocean Conservation Decisions May Inform How the Country Acts

In the past, scientists, industry and government have worked together in surprising, tense and fruitful ways

Northern snakeheads were first discovered in American waters in 2002.

These Large, Snake-Like Fish Are Invading the United States—and Authorities Want You to Kill Them

Invasive northern snakeheads can “walk” on land, breathe air and survive out of water for several days, and they also compete with native species in waterways

Last year, nine million viewers tuned in to watch “The Great Moose Migration” in Sweden.

Watch Majestic Moose Meander North With This Popular Live Stream From Sweden

“The Great Moose Migration” shows the antler-adorned ungulates making their annual spring trek

Caught on Lake Livingston near Houston using a two-pound line, the massive alligator gar weighed 153 pounds.

Angler Catches 153-Pound Behemoth in Texas Using Ultra-Light Tackle, Likely Setting a New World Record

Art Weston and Kirk Kirkland reeled in and released the enormous freshwater fish, known as an alligator gar, after a four-hour battle on Lake Livingston

Elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park huddled together, facing outward, in a behavior called an "alert circle" after an earthquake hit.

Watch These Elephants Form an ‘Alert Circle’ as an Earthquake Shakes San Diego, Protecting Their Young at the Center

Footage from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park shows the large mammals huddling together around the herd’s calves

Fossils indicate a variety of marine reptiles swam through ancient seas.

From Massive Eyes to Shark-Like Tails, Seven Amazing Adaptations That Helped Prehistoric Reptiles Thrive at Sea

The creatures cruised the world’s oceans with features we often associate with marine mammals, such as coats of blubber and the ability to birth live young

Ronin the African giant pouched rat is one of more than 100 rats trained by a Belgian nonprofit to sniff out deadly land mines.

Super-Sniffing Rat Sets a New World Record for Discovering Deadly Land Mines—and He’s Just Getting Started

Ronin, a 5-year-old African giant pouched rat, has found 109 land mines and 15 other unexploded ordnances in Cambodia

An adult male Hudsonian godwit perches in a white spruce tree in Churchill, Manitoba.

Inside the Epic Migrations of North America’s Most Fascinating Shorebirds, From Godwits to Curlews

Ornithologist Bruce Beehler tracks down what he calls the “Magnificent Seven,” a charismatic group of migratory birds, in his new book

An Aldabra giant tortoise stands tall. Males can weigh more than 500 pounds.

Thousands of Giant Tortoises Anchor a Thriving Ecosystem on Aldabra, a Remote Atoll in the Indian Ocean

The animals graze the vegetation into a picturesque turf, fertilize the soil with their dung and disperse seeds over large distances

Carrion crows (Corvus corone) can tell the difference between geometric shapes, according to new research.

Crows May Grasp Basic Geometry: Study Finds the Brainy Birds Can Tell the Difference Between Shapes

Scientists tested crows on their ability to recognize “geometric regularity,” a skill previously assumed to be unique to humans

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Discover Unique Adventures at These Five Minnesota State Parks

From towering pines and fish-filled lakes to iconic wilderness areas, Minnesota’s parks and forests have it all

Brown-headed cowbirds perch together on a branch in southern Arizona. The species is a brood parasite, sneaking their eggs into other birds’ nests in an attempt to steal parental care.

A Revealing Look Into the Surprisingly Tricky Sex Lives of Birds

Even among the most durable migratory bird pairings, sexual exclusivity is rarely part of their relationship

Kipi, the 4-year-old female reticulated giraffe, stands roughly 12 feet tall. Her calf is roughly 6 feet tall.

No One Knew This Giraffe Was Pregnant—Until She Suddenly Gave Birth to a Healthy Baby Girl

Kipi, a 4-year-old reticulated giraffe and first-time mother, had only been at the Maryland Zoo for a few months when she surprised caretakers with her pregnancy

Researchers investigated 12th- and 13th-century manuscripts from an abbey in France that were clad in furry outer covers.

Some ‘Hairy’ Medieval Books Were Covered in Sealskin, and Researchers Don’t Know Exactly Why

Historians were surprised when analyses revealed Catholic monks used pinniped hides for the protective outer layer on some manuscripts, rather than skins from the local boars and deer

The goose briefly made a nest in a juniper planter next to the center-field seats in Wrigley Field's bleachers.

Meet the Chicago Cubs’ Newest Feathered Fan: a Canada Goose That Built Her Nest in Their Baseball Stadium

After the ballpark sent a crew of “geesekeepers” to protect her over the weekend, the bird appears to have moved on. But she earned a place in the hearts of Cubs fans—and in the team’s long history of animal-related lore

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