|
|
|
Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 55 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
Special Topics
|
 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Identify the Animal
Elephant. The elephant is native to Africa and parts of Asia. While it is unable to jump it does boast a very useful trunk which can be used for feeding, siphoning and spraying water. It is the largest terrestrial animal and is second only to the giraffe in height.
| Oscar faced a bleak future in an animal shelter, but after being adopted by the staff of a nursing home, his "grim reaper" skills made him famous in a medical journal. What type of animal was he? | It Was the Worst of Times for Animals
|
Cat. It was the worst of times for Oscar. He was just a kitten when he was turned over to an animal shelter to face an uncertain future.
It was the best of times for Oscar. He was adopted to be a resident cat at a nursing home where he became known for his ability to predict patients' deaths. He would make rounds each day, checking out the residents. If he curled up on the bed of a patient, the nursing home staff would call the family to let them know that death was imminent. At the time that Oscar's skills were noted in the New England Journal of Medicine, he had predicted more than 25 deaths.
| The local population of this primate was near extinction during World War II, but thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, their numbers recovered. Which animals are they? | It Was the Worst of Times for Animals
|
Gibraltar macaques. It was the worst of times for the Gibraltar macaques. Although referred to as the Apes of Gibraltar, they are actually Barbary macaques, a tailless monkey. During World War II, their numbers decreased due to natural causes.
It was the best of times for the Gibraltar macaques. Legend has it that if the macaques disappear, the British will leave Gibraltar. Whether Winston Churchill was motivated by the legend can be debated, but nevertheless, he had more of the primates imported from their native Morocco, and the Gibraltar population has since recovered.
| The last breeding ground in the United States for these birds was threatened by excessive hunting at the beginning of the 1900s, but thanks to the efforts of a local resident, President Theodore Roosevelt established the area as the first wildlife refuge in the U.S. Which birds are they? | It Was the Worst of Times for Animals
|
Brown pelicans. It was the worst of times for brown pelicans. They would nest on Pelican Island in Florida only to become the victims of hunters. After the Florida legislature passed a law protecting non-game birds, hunters murdered two of the wardens hired to protect the birds.
It was the best of times for brown pelicans. Local resident Paul Kroegel was the first to protect the birds by standing guard on the island. Kroegel told the curator for the American Museum of Natural History, Frank Chapman, about the threat to the pelicans, and along with naturalist William Dutcher, Chapman approached Theodore Roosevelt to ask for federal assistance. In 1903, Roosevelt established Pelican Island as the first wildlife refuge.
| These primates are only native to a few islands and are among the most endangered animals in the world, but thanks to a silly-walking Englishman, programs have been established to shore up the native population with captivity-bred animals. What animals are they? | It Was the Worst of Times for Animals
|
Lemurs. It was the worst of times for lemurs. Native to Madagascar and the Comoros Islands off the eastern coast of Africa, some lemur species were on the verge of extinction due to hunting, trafficking and habitat loss.
It was the best of times for lemurs. John Cleese, of Monty Python fame, worked to increase public awareness of the lemurs' plight, and in 1998, financed the first release of captivity-bred lemurs in Madagascar. His work with lemurs led to having one species, the Avahi Cleesei, named after him in 2005.
| Criticism of the use of animals in these places had been levied for many years, and in 2009, Bolivia reportedly became the first nation to ban their use. What type of animals are they? | It Was the Worst of Times for Animals
|
Circus animals. It was the worst of times for circus animals. Allegations of animal abuses have been made against circuses throughout the years, and documented abuses have occurred. An undercover operation by Animal Defenders International (ADI) confirmed that animals were beaten and confined to small cages.
It was the best of times for circus animals. After an ADI presentation to the Bolivian Congress, the Bolivian government decided to ban their use in circuses. Although other countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses, the Bolivian government banned the use of all animals to include domestic ones.
| Poor Perky had a really bad day. She was shot, dragged by a dog and put in a refrigerator, but miraculously she survived. What type of animal was she? | It Was the Worst of Times for Animals
|
Duck. It was the worst of times for Perky. After being shot by a hunter who thought she was dead, she had been stuffed in a refrigerator for a couple of days. The hunter's wife had quite a shock when she opened the refrigerator and saw Perky raise her head.
It was the best of times for Perky. The hunter's wife took Perky to a veterinarian. After surgery to fix the wounds to her wing and leg, she went to live at an animal refuge where she could safely live out her life.
| By the early 20th century, these animals had been eradicated from many parts of the western United States, including Yellowstone National Park, but in the late 20th century, they were successfully reintroduced. Which animals are they? | It Was the Worst of Times for Animals
|
Wolves. It was the worst of times for wolves. They were considered to be too much of a threat to livestock and were purposely killed by the United States government throughout the West. The last wolf in Yellowstone was believed to have been shot in the 1920s.
It was the best of times for wolves. In the 1990s, wolves from Canada and Mexico were successfully reintroduced into various areas of the West. Although ranchers continued to oppose the effort, researchers studying the impact of the wolves on Yellowstone found that some native trees and other flora, which had all but disappeared during the 70 years that wolves were gone, were now thriving at Yellowstone. The conclusion they drew was that the population of grazing animals had grown out of control and that the wolves had returned balance to the area.
| These animals were suspected of spreading the virus during the polio epidemics of the 20th century, but they later were instrumental in developing a treatment for the disease. Which animals are they? | It Was the Worst of Times for Animals
|
Cats. It was the worst of times for cats. When polio epidemics hit the United States in the early 20th century, people blamed everything from animals to immigrants. Cats took the brunt of the blame, however, with over 70,000 estimated to have been slaughtered.
It was the best of times for cats. Interestingly, cats played a role in saving many polio patients. Philip Drinker and Louis Shaw had both used pressurized containers in their work with cats. Drinker's brother had used them to keep cats alive during surgery, while Shaw used them to study cat respiration. Together, their research led to the development of the iron lung that saved polio patients.
| With over 450 venomous species, of which 250 are capable of killing a man, this creepy animal earns the #2 rank on the list of "World's Most Dangerous Animals". Human fatalities occur in Africa, North America, Asia, and Australia, home of the deadliest poison carrier of the entire species. The warmth of our bloodstreams is what helps it target us, yet almost 100% of attacks occur because of human encroachment on their habitat and mishandling of the animals.
Which group of wicked wildlife, that takes #2, am I referring to?
| The World's Most Dangerous Animals
|
venomous snakes. Upwards of 125,000 deaths were caused by "venomous snakes" in 2004 alone, as per combined reports by wildlife/animals groups, as well as hospital and medical establishments worldwide. This doesn't include fatalities from the non-venomous variety such as boa constrictors and pythons. The Australian serpent called the Inland Taipan(Fierce Snake), has the dubious distinction of possessing the deadliest venom of any snake, with the poison from one bite having the capacity to kill 100 humans!
| Number four on the "World's Most Dangerous Animals" list is actually a group of several species. Experts say if you meet up with one of this group, "Never Run", but rather stand still, open your coat and/or try to look as big as possible, and avoid eye contact. Many people are 'owned' by the domestic variety.
What soft and cuddly group of fast-moving maulers gets the #4 position?
| The World's Most Dangerous Animals
|
big cats. With the fastest land animal being the cheetah and pro teams such as the Tigers, Jaguars, and Lions(pride), this group has to be "big cats". With almost 1,000 deaths a year attributed to these beautiful creatures, they're considered the 4th most dangerous animals on earth. Regarding the last sentence of the question, I'm personally "owned" by a domestic feline, but I'd much rather be owned by a housecat than an angry tiger!
| With a bite that produces over 5,000 pounds per square inch, I thought this grotesque carnivore would sit higher on the most dangerous animals list. Found mostly in Africa and Australia, it has been seen killing sharks, yet it has a perfect symbiotic relationship with the Egyptian plover, a small bird that serves as its personal dental hygienist.
Coming in at #5 on the "World's Most Dangerous Animals" list, what creature am I speaking of ?
| The World's Most Dangerous Animals
|
crocodile. "Crocodiles"..YUK! On average, nearly 800 people a year die in the jaws of this disgusting looking beast. The Egyptian Plover bird isn't afraid of the big reptile because it serves the purpose of picking the food debris from the croc's teeth, giving the lizard it's own personal dental worker. On February 19th, 1945, 900 Japanese soldiers in Burma tried to escape advancing allied forces by retreating through 10 miles of Mangrove swamps. About 500 escaped, with 20 being captured alive. It's uncertain as to how many died from bullets, but the remaining 380 were never found, likely becoming a smorgasborg for hungry crocs.
| This next animal often has a friendly nature towards people, yet are known to attack unexpectedly, even people they've been familiar with for decades. Native only to Africa and some parts of southern and eastern Asia, these strictly herbivorous mammals kill an average of nearly 500 people every year.
Which extremely intelligent animal, sits at #6 on the "World's Most Dangerous Animals" countdown?
| The World's Most Dangerous Animals
|
elephant. They say that elephants never forget and after many studies it's been found that they do indeed have an excellent memory. Not aggressive in nature, when they do go on a rampage, it's often discovered later on that the animal had been provoked in some way. It's usually too late though as they often have to be killed because of their size and the destruction this largest living land animal can cause.
| Mostly found in Africa, this behemoth owns a reputation as being a ruthless killer. It can reach a weight of several thousand pounds with the average adult male measuring 11-17 feet in length. Herbivores by nature, they're extremely ill-tempered towards humans and their natural enemies, crocodiles, and have been witnessed attacking and consuming both.
Which massive mammal took #7 on the "World's Most Dangerous Animals" list?
| The World's Most Dangerous Animals
|
hippopotamus. Also known as a "river horse", the hippopotamus has earned its reputation for being a ruthless killer. Known to be the most temperamental creature on earth, it's wise for humans to give them a wide berth because despite being big and bulky, hippos can reach speeds of between 30 and 50kmh over short distances. Over 150 fatalities were attributed to hippos in 2008 which is a lot considering they now live only on the African continent and are suffering ever-dwindling numbers.
| Coming in at #8 is an animal that looks anything but dangerous. There are over 200 varieties that measure anywhere one inch to six feet in diameter, and every one of the species has the capability of poisoning their victims through the use of nematocysts. It's a slow-moving creature and looks fragile, and its appearance fools many into thinking that even the small ones are harmless.
Which of the "World's Most Dangerous Animals" am I describing above?
| The World's Most Dangerous Animals
|
jellyfish. Peanut butter and jellyfish anybody? YUK! Stings from their tentacles ranges from no effect to fatal, depending on one's tolerance to venom. Vinegar(3-10%) helps neutralize all jellyfish stings except for the Portuguese Man-of-War variety. If no vinegar is available, then pray someone you know well is nearby as the next best thing is human urine.(Excuse me ma'am? I've been stung on the head by a jellyfish and don't have any vinegar!) Over 100 deaths a year result from jellyfish stings.
| It seems everyone was raised to be scared of this tough-skinned, cartilaginous, animal that is hunted to the tune of 100 million per year. They're not as bad as movies about them suggest, yet they were credited with over 150 attacks last year, and find themselves included on the list of the "World's Most Dangerous Animals".
What animal, unfairly labelled as a 'maneater', comes in at #9 on the list?
| The World's Most Dangerous Animals
|
sharks. Did my "Jaws" music scare you? Contrary to popular belief, sharks are not brainless eating machines. They live in all seas and oceans of the world and there are also a few varieties that can also survive in freshwater. Only four of the 360+ species, the great white, oceanic whitetip, tiger, and bull sharks, are known to be truly dangerous to man. in 2008 they were responsible for approximately 100 deaths.
| These omnivores are found in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, but mainly in the northern hemisphere. Adults of all species range from four to nine feet in length and can weigh anywhere from 60 - 1300 pounds. Attacks by these are considered rare, but don't get between a mother and her young.
Which big brutes start off the "World's Most Dangerous Animals" list at the #10 position?
| The World's Most Dangerous Animals
|
bears. When bears are hungry, they will go anywhere for food and eat just about anything from blueberries and fish to rotting garbage and yes, people too. According to a well-researched list by animal scientists, bears are responsible for 5 - 10 fatalities a year.
|
Play Now! 