Photo: Merrillie/Depositphotos

Marine bioluminescence enhances beautiful nature scenes with its blue glow. And while it has mostly been photographed as a blue light that sways with the waves, it is natural phenomenon that also moves along with the creatures that call the ocean home. A video by Newport Coastal Adventure shows a group of dolphins in bioluminescent water, lighting up the dark ocean as they swim.

First shot in 2020 by photographer Patrick Coyne, the clip begins aboard the whale watching company's boat. Rocking the waters as they sail, bioluminescence marks their path. In a moment, they are joined by a couple of dolphins that, despite swimming below the surface, can clearly be seen by the sailors. Engulfed in a blue glow, the dolphins happily tread water. “We were out for a few hours and on our final stretch back we finally had two dolphins pop up to start the incredible glowing show,” wrote Coyne on Instagram. “A few minutes later and we were greeted by a few more which was insane. ”

Despite their brightness, dolphins do not themselves glow. This can be noticed when the dolphins jump out of the water. Instead, the credit goes to the microorganisms found in the water. Bioluminescence is a natural chemical process that allows living things to produce light in their body, to either lure prey, confuse predators, or even as a form of communication. As for bioluminescent water, it can be attributed to algae bloom of plankton, aided by calm and warm sea conditions.

For all the beauty of the scene, capturing this phenomenon isn't an easy feat. “For starters the bioluminescence has sweet spots to where it shows up and then fades away so while on the water it’s impossible to just find it,” Coyne explains. “Not only that, but actually finding any type of animal in pitch black is just so ridiculously hard. Conditions have to be absolutely perfect for the bioluminescence to show up and to have an animal swim through it so we can film it.” Ultimately, the effort paid off, as his footage documents a stunning moment where all stars aligned for nature to put on a show.

Photographer Patrick Coyne captured footage of a group of dolphins in bioluminescent water, lighting up the dark ocean as they swim.

h/t: [Reddit]

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READ: Watch a Group of Dolphins Swimming in Bioluminescent Waters off the Coast of California

@aaronthehusky_ Ai commenti negativi “ ma che vuo?”#tiktoklover #tiktok #huskysiberianotiktok #husky #siberianhusky #husky #myhusky #viralvideo #tiktok ♬ suono originale – Antonia

Huskies are well known for their chattiness. Whether it's through howls or barks, it definitely seems like these intelligent canines are trying to communicate with their humans. Apparently, some of them even try to mimic their owners' accents when they “use their words.” A husky in Italy has gone viral on TikTok for his hilarious videos in which he “talks” back to his humans with a distinctly Italian accent.

The account, called @aaronthehusky_, features short clips of the blue-and-brown eyed pup copying the rhythm of his human's voice through doggy sounds. While the husky doesn't make any discernible words through his vocalizations, it definitely appears as though he is trying to emulate his masters' way of speaking—perhaps in hopes that he will be better understood.

According to a study conducted in the UK, dogs copying their humans' regional accents is a relatively common occurrence. People from across the country were asked to record their dogs' barks and growls and submit them to a panel, and researches found variations from area to area. Dog behaviorist Tracey Gudgeon proposes that canines mimic the tone and pitch of their owners' voices as a way of bonding. For instance, Scottish dogs were found to have a “rolling” bark, similar to the regional accent.

So if the Italian husky has picked up his humans' musical accent, it is very likely that your pup sounds like you too.

A vocal husky (@aaronthehusky_) “talks” to his Italian humans with a similar Italian accent.

@aaronthehusky_ Risposta a @SIMONA Stiamo lavorando sui suoni A voi i commenti e altre idee #tiktoklover #siberianhusky #huskysiberianotiktok #meandyou #viralvideo #funnydog #perteee #tiktok ♬ suono originale – Antonia

According to a study, it is common for dogs to pick up on their owner's regional accent.

@aaronthehusky_Quante volte mi ha mandato a quel paese?♬ suono originale – Antonia

Copying their human’s way of speaking is a way of bonding.

@aaronthehusky_Pur di uscire dice qualsiasi parola♬ suono originale – Antonia

@aaronthehusky_: TikTok
h/t: [Laughing Squid]

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READ: Vocal Husky “Talks” to His Humans With an Italian Accent

Photo: mountainpix/Depositphotos

Like so many animals today, Saharan antelope are severely threatened. However, a recent announcement offers a glimmer of hope for their future. The scimitar horned oryx—which can be identified by its long, arched horns and white-and-brown face—has been brought back from the brink of extinction. After previously being labeled extinct in the wild in 2000 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, rigorous conservation efforts have led to its status being downgraded to endangered.

This amazing turnaround was made possible by the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD), supported by the Zoological Society of London. After two decades, there have been 510 scimitar horned oryx calves born in Chad's Ouadi Rimé, at the Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve. “At a time when biodiversity is being lost at unprecedented rates, the return of the scimitar horned oryx can give us hope for other species whose fate is—quite literally—in our hands,” says Dr. Andrew Terry, director of conservation and policy at the Zoological Society of London. “To have the fate of the flagship species for the initiative dramatically reversed proves the potential for the other species surviving only in zoos and reinforces the need for urgent support from funders and policy makers.”

The comeback of the scimitar horned oryx also underlines the importance of collaboration among organizations and governments to help protect and reestablish rare animal populations. “Projects like the scimitar horned oryx show that reversing the fate of these species is possible—we just need to be able to give the same resource and commitment to the other Extinct in the Wild species that survive only under human care,” adds Professor John Ewen. Hopefully, the fortune of the scimitar horned oryx will continue into the future, and lead the way for more species to rebound in their natural habitats.

The scimitar horned oryx, which was previously extinct in the wild, has been brought back from the brink of extinction through rigorous conservation efforts.

Photo: DJHolmes86/Depositphotos

h/t: [Zoological Society of London]

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READ: Rare Saharan Antelope Is Brought Back From the Brink of Extinction

 

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Una publicación compartida por Nubz (@calliope.nubz.insta)

Some owners accessorize their pets to protect them from the elements or to simply add a little style to their look. But for a chicken named Nubz and his human, Meesh Davignon, the tiny shoes he wears around his home are so much more. After the chicken lost his toes, Davignon noticed he had trouble walking on hard surfaces. She wondered if giving him a pair of little dog boots would make a difference. Not only did they vastly improve things for Nubz, but they also turned him into a style icon.

Davignon, a dog walker from California, adopted Nubz when he was dealing with leg scale mites, the arachnoid parasites that ate up his toes. After nursing him back to health, a deep bond was forged between the two, and Nubz—a name in reference to his shortened toes—was welcomed into the family, which also includes dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and 11 other chickens.

The dog boots, which Davignon's smallest pooch never used, took Nubz a while to get used to. In the end, though, they have worked wonders. “As he got more comfortable wearing his little shoes, I’d leave them on longer each time,” Davignon told The Washington Post. “Pretty soon, he was getting around a lot better than he did without them because they were great little mobility devices. I’d let him wear them to walk on wood chips and anything else that was rough on his feet.”

His boots were a massive success, turning him into a viral video star. Davignon has been open about Nubz's journey, showing him getting around in his wheelchair and addressing his health scares. Moved by Nubz's strength, his followers asked Davignon if they could send him some shoes for his collection.

As a result, Nubz was sent over 60 pairs of shoes, from bright yellow sandals and purple crocs to Converse sneakers and holiday boots. “I haven’t counted his shoes in months and thought it was more like 30,” she said. “I haven’t had to buy him a single pair because people keep sending them.” Despite the variety he now has access to, his favorite seem to be a pair of dark blue shoes that look like Ugg boots. “He’s pretty fast in those,” his human admits, “and seems to really enjoy wearing them.”

Overall, Davignon is thrilled to hear about the happiness her little chicken has brought into the lives of people around the world. She is also immensely grateful for the fans who have gone so far as to send him gifts or even pitch in for his hospital bills. Davignon says, “They’ve been a great blessing—it’s surreal to have so many people love my tiny little chicken.”

This is Nubz, a chicken that lost his toes to leg scale mites but has been nursed back to health by his human, Meesh Davignon.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Nubz (@calliope.nubz.insta)

After noticing his struggle to walk on hard surfaces, Davignon wondered if giving him a pair of little dog boots would make a difference. Not only did they vastly improve things for Nubz, but they also turned him into a style icon.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Nubz (@calliope.nubz.insta)

Now, his loving fans have sent him over 60 pairs of shoes. “They’ve been a great blessing,” Davignon says. “It’s surreal to have so many people love my tiny little chicken.”

 

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Una publicación compartida por Nubz (@calliope.nubz.insta)

Nubz the Chicken: Instagram
h/t: [Good News Network]

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READ: Kind Strangers Send 64 Pairs of Tiny Shoes to Chicken With Missing Toes So He Can Walk Around Easier

Photo: Tarpan/Depositphotos

Getting enough sleep is a challenge for almost everyone. In the case that you can't get at least seven hours off sleep at night, taking a cat nap is a great way to catch up on rest. While felines are most commonly recognized as avid daytime snoozers, there's a certain bird that has taken napping to another level. The charming chinstrap penguin—named after its distinct black marking underneath its beak—has an incredible microsleep schedule. Rather than rest for a long period of time, it sustains itself with over 10,000 naps, each of which lasts only about four seconds.

While microsleeping in such small increments does not work for humans, chinstrap penguins appear to thrive on this sleep cycle. By fading in and out of these brief naps, they sleep about 11 hours in total each day. Scientists believe that due to the extreme conditions in living in islands off of Antarctica, this sleep schedule may have been adapted to keep the penguins on near-constant watch for predators and to protect their vulnerable nests and eggs. “What is really weird is that the penguin can sustain this in-between wake and sleep state constantly,” explains co-author Paul-Antoine Libourel. “Only by constantly recording brain activity, for days, have we been able to highlight this interesting sleep phenotype.”

It is hard to even tell when chinstrap penguins fall into a state of sleep, as they simply blink lazily before appearing alert again. The research being conducted on this species also highlights how not all species rely or even benefit from long, uninterrupted sleep cycles. “Sleep provides a lot of benefits, but we don’t know whether it’s the same benefits for all species,” Libourel adds. “And we don’t know at what point we can disturb sleep, with or without cost to the animal.”

A sleep physiologist from the University of Oxford, Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, proposes that the chinstrap penguins' rapid sleep cycle also aids the colony as a whole. While some sink into a short slumber, others remain awake, ensuring that the group remains somewhat vigilant to danger. Scientists also found that the sleep duration and quality varied based on where the birds were located in the colony, with birds on the periphery dozing off for longer periods of time, most likely due to the stress of being on guard for predators. “Wake quality affects sleep quality,” Vyazovskiy says. “So maybe the birds on the periphery need to be extra vigilant, and they get tired, and then they sleep a bit longer and in a deeper way.”

Although the microsleep schedule has proven to be a winning strategy for chinstrap penguins, it is certainly a unique adaptation that doesn't work for everyone. These studies provide more evidence on how different species lean into particular sleeping habits to survive in ever-changing environments.

A 4-second nap sounds like nothing to us humans, but chinstrap penguins are able to sustain themselves by dozing off in tiny increments over 10,000 times per day.

Photo: Steve_Allen/Depositphotos

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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READ: Chinstrap Penguins Have a Fascinating “Microsleep” Schedule Made Up of Thousands of 4-Second Naps

Jonathan the tortoise. (Photo: Kevstan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Tortoises are known to have surprisingly long lifespans, living well over 150 years. However, one particular specimen has far exceeded this. Jonathan the tortoise has turned 191 years old, holding his title of the oldest living land animal by yet another year.

Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), who has called the remote Island of Saint Helena home since 1882. Since he was fully mature when he was given as a present to the governor at the time, he must have been at least 50 years old. As such, academics estimate that the tortoise was born in 1832.

This claim was further supported by an old photograph taken between 1882 and 1886. In the image, Jonathan can be seen grazing in residency gardens of William Grey-Wilson, the Overseas British territory Governor of St. Helena at the time. Since there were no records of his actual hatching, the government granted him an official birthday to mark his 190th year—December 4.

The Guinness World Records has officially acknowledged Jonathan as the oldest known living land animal and the oldest chelonian, which include tortoises, turtles, and terrapins. “Jonathan has lived through many major events in modern-day history,” writes the Guinness World Records. “When he was born in 1832, William IV was Britain's king. Queen Victoria, who was 13, would not accede to the throne until Jonathan was 5. When Jonathan was 2, Britain abolished slavery. ” Additionally, he has live through two world wars and 40 U.S. presidents.

Despite his advanced age, Jonathan is still in great shape. Although he is now blind from cataracts and has lost his sense of smell, he spends his days roaming the grounds of the Governor’s house with his tortoise pals, three other giant tortoises called Emma, David, and Fred—the latter of whom was introduced as a mate for Jonathan, before they realized he was a male. Due to this misidentification, Jonathan has no offspring of his own.

“It is extraordinary to think that this gentle giant has outlived every other living creature on land, including of course the whole human race,” said his vet, Joe Hollins. “Jonathan is in good health and all the indications at present make us hopeful that he will reach his third century—if indeed he hasn’t done so already!”

Jonathan the tortoise has turned 191 years old, holding title of the oldest living land animal by another year.

Two giant tortoises photographed on the grounds of Government House, St. Helena. The tortoise on the left is Jonathan, estimated to have hatched in 1832 and still living as of 2023. (Photo: Unknown photographer via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

“It is extraordinary to think that this gentle giant has outlived every other living creature on land, including of course the whole human race,” said his vet, Joe Hollins.

Photo: Kevstan via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

h/t: [Live Science]

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READ: Jonathan the Tortoise Celebrates 191st Birthday, Making Him the Oldest Living Land Animal

 

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Bringing an animal into your life is a longterm commitment. But along with the responsibility is the possibility of an incomparably love and a long-lasting bond. One woman named Caitlin Doran has shared a special 22-year friendship with her pet tortoise named Tiptoe, and shows what their daily livea together looks like with her thousands of followers.

Doran, who is based in Los Angeles, received Tiptoe as a Christmas present when she was 7 years old. At the time, he was about the size of a strawberry and could easily fit in her palm. However, with love and care, the African tortoise grew immensely, finally reaching a healthy 175 pounds. The pair have been inseparable through all of the ups and downs in Doran's life. “I had a difficult childhood. My parents did the best they could with what they knew. But some big signs were missed,” Doran says. “I felt like nobody could hear me, but Tiptoe was always here.”

The animal lover affirms, “I love my animals. I got them all at significant times in my life when I needed a friend.” Tiptoe helped Doran through her mom's cancer diagnosis, and coping with the pressures of adulthood. Just before COVID-19, Doran quit her job. It was during this time that she began sharing videos of Tiptoe on social media. “I focused all my energy on my animals. Tiptoe in particular. Something about him brings my mind to a hault. We go on walks, spend time in the sun and eat healthy food. He helps me slow down and smell the roses. He is everything.”

In these videos, Doran highlights what a tortoise lifestyle is like. Tiptoe receives regular walks around the neighborhood—a mile takes him about 40 minutes in total—and has plenty of social interaction with people and other animals. Doran's most viewed content, however, features the yummy and colorful food she feeds Tiptoe. This ranges from a simple flower or a piece of cactus to a platter of fresh fruits and veggies. Whatever is on the menu, Tiptoe always looks delighted with his snacks.

Scroll down to see videos of this amazing friendship, and be sure to follow Doran and Tiptoe's Instagram account so you never miss an update.

A woman from Los Angeles named Caitlin Doran has been friends with a tortoise for 22 years.

@caitlinandtiptoeHappy Monday ♬ original sound – Caitlin and Tiptoe

 

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Doran received the African tortoise as a Christmas present when she was 7 years old.

 

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A post shared by Caitlin Doran (@caitlinandtiptoe)

She named him Tiptoe, and he has been a constant companion ever since.

@caitlinandtiptoeFrom baby —> biggie ♬ Dreams (2004 Remaster) – Fleetwood Mac

Tortoises can live up to 100 years, so at 22, Tiptoe is still in his prime.

 

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A post shared by Caitlin Doran (@caitlinandtiptoe)

@caitlinandtiptoefuture children have no idea what they’re getting themselves into ✨♬ Island In The Sun – Weezer

He weighs 175 pounds, enjoys long walks around Doran's neighborhood, and likes making friends.

 

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A post shared by Caitlin Doran (@caitlinandtiptoe)

 

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A post shared by Caitlin Doran (@caitlinandtiptoe)

 

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A post shared by Caitlin Doran (@caitlinandtiptoe)

She began sharing videos of what she feeds Tiptoe, which ranges from flowers to platters of fresh fruits and veggies.

 

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A post shared by Caitlin Doran (@caitlinandtiptoe)

 

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A post shared by Caitlin Doran (@caitlinandtiptoe)

Caitlin and Tiptoe: Instagram
h/t: [Fox 11]

All images via Caitlin Doran.

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READ: Woman Has Been Best Friends With Her 175-Pound African Tortoise for 22 Years

Photo: Ami Vitale/Courtesy of Vital Impacts
“Lorok and Ngilai comfort one another as they explore the wilderness at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in northern Kenya. The sanctuary is unique in that it is the first community owned and run elephant sanctuary in Africa. It is also the first to hire indigenous women to be elephant keepers. They understand that the best protectors of wildlife are often the people living closest to them.”

Wildlife photographers capture poignant stories of survival and hope with their cameras. While their labor brings visibility to the issues animals face, over 100 photographers have taken their efforts to the next level. Vital Impacts, a non-profit dedicated to boosting environmental art and photography, is launching a fundraising fine art print sale in support of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Africa's first indigenous-owned elephant sanctuary.

The efforts of the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary help in two ways. First, they raise orphaned elephants with the appropriate care so they can be safely released back into the wild once they come of age. Currently, the sanctuary is working with 47 elephant calves, of which 13 will soon return to the wild. “From being weaned from their bottles to extended explorations of the landscape on longer walks, they also increased their encounters with other wild animals and sourced more of their own food,” writes Vital Impacts.

At the same time, the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary also aspires to turn elephant conservation into an opportunity that will improve livelihoods in local communities, especially those of women. “All the keepers are from the local community and are formally trained in the care, rehabilitation and release of elephant calves. An elected board from within the community oversee all operational aspects of the Sanctuary,” states the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary on their website.

To support their efforts, renowned photographers such as Ami Vitale, Reuben Wu, Michael “Nick” Nichols, Jim Naughten, and Gunnar Gunnarson have donated their work to Vital Impacts' annual print sale. From a tender encounter between Jane Goodall and a primate to a sci-fi-like desert landscape, the available images speak to a large number of sensibilities.

The photographs donated by photographer Ami Vitale were taken at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Northern Kenya. For example, one of her image features two of the elephants that will be benefited from the print sale in an act of play as they explore the land that they call home. While another moving photograph showcases a baby elephant sweetly embracing one of its caretakers.

To browse all the images available as part of the print sale, visit Vital Impact's website. You can also take a look at some of the photographs donated to this cause and learn their stories, below.

Vital Impacts, a non-profit dedicated to boosting environmental art and photography, is launching a fundraising fine art print sale.

Photo: Jim Naughten/Courtesy of Vital Impacts
“Our perception is that wildlife is something other, apart from humanity. It happens elsewhere, in far away lands, in nature documentaries, zoos or safari parks. This impression is fictional and bears little resemblance to reality, both because wildlife barely exists at all in this harmonious state, and also because despite our perceived separation, we are still very much bound to the laws of the natural world. The images in this series reflect this by using natural history specimens and dioramas, themselves a fictional human construct, and adding layers and altering and exaggerating colors to highlight the artificial and nature of what we are seeing.”

The funds will go towards Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Africa's first indigenous-owned elephant sanctuary.

Photo: Ami Vitale/Courtesy of Vital Impacts
“Mary Lengees comforts Lodokejek, an orphaned calf at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in northern Kenya. The sanctuary is changing the lives of both elephants and people. Elephants are orphaned as a result of drought, human-wildlife conflict, natural mortality, and in rare cases, poaching. Reteti sanctuary is unique as the first community owned and run elephant sanctuary in Africa.”

Currently, the sanctuary is working with 13 of their 47 elephant calves, which are getting the appropriate care so they can be safely released back into the wild once they come of age.

Photo: Reuben Wu/Courtesy of Vital Impacts

At the same time, the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary aspires to turn elephant conservation into an opportunity to improve livelihoods in local communities, especially those of women.

Photo: Michael “Nick” Nichols/Courtesy of Vital Impacts
“Late one afternoon as she was checking on the zoo chimps that her organization had been feeding, Jane Goodall approached the cage of a dangerous and aggressive male. Disarming him with a language learned from her years of research, she offered her golden hair for him to touch. It was a simple moment that came to represent so much.
Jane Goodall Institute does not endorse handling or close proximity to wildlife. This represents a historic context.​”

To support their efforts, renowned photographers such as Ami Vitale, Reuben Wu, Michael “Nick” Nichols, Jim Naughten, and Gunnar Gunnarson have donated their work to Vital Impacts' annual print sale.

Photo: Jim Richardson/Courtesy of Vital Impacts
“The sight was breathtaking. Tens of thousands of gannets flew out from cloud-wrapped Boreray to greet us as our boat pitched wildly on the Atlantic waves.
This uninhabited island is part of St. Kilda, forty miles out in the Atlantic beyond the Outer Hebrides.The last islanders abandoned St. Kilda in 1930, leaving it to the wild Atlantic storms and invoking melancholy memories of a lost world — and creating a haven for migrating and nesting seabirds like Gannets and Puffins. Together these stories of human abandonment and wildlife sanctuary have garnered St. Kilda dual UNESCO World Heritage Site awards.
When I came that evening I was simply seeking scenes of a remote island at sunset. I was disappointed to find Boreray shrouded in clouds. But as we came around the sun broke through and the birds swept down upon us in multitudes. The spectacle totally eclipsed my expectations, and here was the gift of wild splendor and transforming wonder. I remember whooping and hollering while the crew member held on to my belt so I wouldn’t plunge over the side and into the sea.”

To browse all the images available as part of the print sale, visit Vital Impact's website.

Photo: Nick Brandt/Courtesy of Vital Impacts
“The elephant was killed by poachers in Tsavo in southern Kenya in 2004. His tusks were stored in Kenya Wildlife Service’s ivory strongroom. It is doubtful that there is an elephant left alive today on the African continent with tusks this size.
The rangers in this photo work for Big Life Foundation. Big Life protects over 1.6 million acres with more than 350 rangers in 36 permanent and mobile outposts. With the aid of multiple patrol vehicles, tracker dogs, night vision equipment and aerial monitoring, this co-ordinated protection for the ecosystem has brought about a dramatic reduction in poaching of all animals in the region, and an attendant increase in key populations.”

Vital Impacts: Website

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Vital Impacts.

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Herd of Wild Elephants Take an Adorable Nap Together After 300-Mile Journey

READ: 100+ Photographers Contribute Their Work To Raise Funds for 13 Orphaned Elephants

 

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Any animal birth at a zoo is cause for celebration, but one newborn also offers a glimmer of hope for its critically endangered species. On November 12, the Chester Zoo in the UK welcomed a baby eastern black rhino, which is among the rarest animals in the world. With fewer than 600 eastern black rhinos remaining in the wild, the birth of this female calf is a vital step in conserving this amazing species.

The young mother rhino, Zuri, was captured pacing her exhibit before finally delivering the baby rhino. It didn't take long for the calf to get on its feet and follow her mother in a youthful trot. “We’d been eagerly awaiting this birth for 15 long months and, as it’s quite unusual for a rhino to give birth in daylight hours, we really didn’t expect it to happen right in front of us as we were going about our day,” says Emma Evison, Chester Zoo's rhino team manager. “To be able to witness the calf safely entering the world, in front of our very own eyes, was just the most incredible privilege.”

To this day, eastern black rhinos are at risk in their natural habitat due to illegal wildlife trade. However, the Chester Zoo works with other European conservation zoos to preserve the species, with the longterm goal of relocating more rhino breeds in captivity to a protected National Park in Africa. Scientists at Chester Zoo even developed a way to track rhino hormones by analyzing their dung, which has led to more successful mating statistics—a technology that they are sharing with conservations in Kenya to further improve black rhino breeding chances. Mike Jordan, director of animals and plants at Chester Zoo, adds: “Zuri and her new arrival is testament to the unwavering dedication of conservationists here at Chester, and around the world, who are working to safeguard these incredible animals and ensure that they thrive long into the future.”

Chester Zoo is in the process of choosing a name for the young rhino with Lumi (meaning “bringer of life”), Lulu (meaning “precious”), and Lilo (meaning “generous one”) being the top choices. You can comment on Instagram to cast your vote for your favorite name.

An eastern black rhino was born at Chester Zoo in the UK.

 

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There are fewer than 600 eastern black rhinos remaining in the wild.

 

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A post shared by Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo)

This birth offers a glimmer of hope for this rare species.

 

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Watch this video to learn more about eastern black rhinos:

Chester Zoo: Website | Instagram | YouTube
h/t: [IFL Science]

All images via Chester Zoo.

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READ: Critically Endangered Eastern Black Rhino Was Born in UK Zoo

Photo: brnmanzurova.gmail.com/Depositphotos (Not a photo of the actual woman or dog.)

Making it to a 100 years old is no easy feat, and as a society, we're lucky that those folks are still with us to share their stories and wisdom with us. But how does one make it that far? Some say it's exercise, others credit a healthy diet. But for Ada Daniel, who lived to be 108 years old, the secret to a long life is to have dogs instead of children.

Daniel lived at a nursing home in Derbyshire, in the UK, where she became well known. An activity coordinator named Kelly Goucher knew her as “definitely a character,” and recalls, a conversation she had with the centenarian: “I did ask her what her secret was once and she said it was to have dogs, not kids.”

Instead of having children, Daniel and her late husband enjoyed the company of their beloved pets. “She had a lot of greyhounds. She lived on Street Lane in Ripley and all of her greyhounds were also called Street Lane,” shared Goucher, offering a glimpse of Daniel's charm. Her dogs contributed to her having an active and healthy lifestyle. She used to enjoy daily walks until she was 97, and didn’t move into a care home until she was 103.

Despite her age, Daniel never let go of the excitement for her birthday, which is on June 1. Before her 105th birthday, the staff of the nursing home she lives in asked for people to send her cards. This call to action was such as success, that they've carried on with the tradition each year. For 2023, Daniel got 300 cards—and an extra special greeting. King Charles and Queen Camilla also congratulated her for her birthday.

Daniel passed away in October 2023, after living a long and beloved life. She will certainly be remembered for her sense of humor and unique personality. While 108 is certainly an impressive number, that's nowhere near the oldest person in the UK. Currently, the record is held by Ethel May Caterham, who was born in 1909, making her 114 years old.

A woman named Ada Daniel lived to be 108 years old, and she had a theory about how she lived such a long life.

For her, the secret to a long life is to have dogs instead of children.

Photo: halfpoint/Depositphotos (Not a photo of the actual woman or dog.)

“She had a lot of greyhounds. She lived on Street Lane in Ripley and all of her greyhounds were also called Street Lane.”

Photo: halfpoint/Depositphotos (Not a photo of the actual woman or dog.)

h/t: [Bored Panda]

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READ: 108-Year-Old Woman Credits Having “Dogs, Not Kids” as Her Secret to a Long Life