Mammals
The Wild Story of What Happened to Pablo Escobar’s Hungry, Hungry Hippos
Ever since the demise of the infamous drug kingpin, his pet hippos have flourished, wreaking havoc on the ecosystem and terrorizing local communities
Ancient DNA Unravels the Mysteries of the Dingo, Australia's Wild Dog
Researchers dove into thousands of years of evolutionary history, revealing new insights about the iconic, though sometimes vilified, canines
View 11 Breathtaking Images From the BigPicture Photography Competition
This 2024 showcase of life on Earth shines a light on some of our planet's most amazing species and places
The Quest to Resurrect a Lost Ecosystem in Siberia
A father-and-son team of scientists are trying to revive ancient grasslands by reintroducing large grazers
Two Pandas Arrive at the San Diego Zoo, the First to Enter the U.S. in 21 Years
For months, the only pandas in the country had been in Atlanta. Next, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are expected to also receive pandas this year
What Killed the Last Woolly Mammoths? Scientists Say It Wasn't Inbreeding
New research suggests some catastrophic event—such as a natural disaster or a virus—killed the world's last known population of mammoths on Wrangel Island
Five Amazing Dolphin Behaviors, Explained
From calling each other by name to using tools, these social creatures are a lot like us
Pablo Escobar’s Abandoned Hippos Are Wreaking Havoc in the Colombian Jungle
Decades ago, the drug baron smuggled the beasts into South America for his private menagerie. They’ve been multiplying ever since. Now officials are taking extreme measures to counter the problem
Time Is Running Out for the Hudson Bay Polar Bears
The southern and western subpopulations are on track to disappear as sea ice becomes too thin amid rising global temperatures
Rare White Bison Calf Born at Yellowstone National Park
A photographer spotted the calf on June 4. White buffalo are sacred to some Native American tribes, and the birth has been called a "blessing and a warning"
Meet the 'Echidnapus,' an Extinct Creature That Resembles Both the Echidna and Platypus of Today
The species is among three newly identified monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, discovered from fossils in Australia that are shedding light on the odd animals' evolution
Endangered Wild Horses Return to Kazakhstan for the First Time in at Least 200 Years
The international effort, led by the Prague Zoo, released seven Przewalski’s horses to their native steppe habitat in central Asia
African Elephants May Call Each Other by Name
In a new study, a computer model was able to identify the recipient of an elephant's call more than a quarter of the time, which scientists say is significantly greater than chance
Don't Call Wombats Heroes, but Their Burrows Do Provide Food, Water and Shelter for Other Animals
During Australia’s devastating bushfires in 2019 and 2020, misinformation spread about wombats welcoming animals into their underground homes—but a new study finds a kernel of truth in the viral story
These Innovative Landers Will Examine Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico
Scientists plan to use what they learn to help restore communities harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Do These Fossilized Teeth Belong to the World’s Smallest Great Ape?
Researchers say two teeth and a kneecap belong to a previously unknown species that lived in what is now Germany
Between Dives, Orcas Take Only a Single Breath
A new study finds the black-and-white marine mammals tend to make shorter, shallower dives compared to humpback and blue whales, making orcas the "sprinters" of the ocean
After Rats Were Eradicated From This Small Island, Seabirds Thrived
Tromelin Island became a safe place for birds once the invasive mammals were eliminated
Austrian Man Discovers Hundreds of Mammoth Bones While Renovating His Wine Cellar
Owner Andreas Pernerstorfer thought he'd found a piece of wood, but then he remembered something his grandfather had said about finding teeth in the cellar decades ago
Four Important Questions About Bird Flu, Answered
The virus has killed tens of millions of birds and infected hundreds of species of animals, including dairy cattle in the United States. Here’s what you should know about it
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