Parveen Kaswan, a forest ranger in India, shared a special video showing a group of elephants saying goodbye to a baby elephant. The video touched many hearts on social media.
In the video, an adult elephant gently stayed beside the baby’s body, almost like it was protecting it. Then, other elephants came, walking together in a line, like a quiet parade. They gathered around the baby, their movements slow and careful.
The first elephant lifted the baby again, with the others walking close behind. It was a moment that showed how deeply they care, just like people do when they say goodbye to someone they love.
The video reached many people, with over 5,000 shares and 12,000 likes. Elephants have been known to grieve for their lost ones, just like humans.
A few months back, scientists found a very old shark swimming in the North Atlantic Ocean. They knew this shark was old, but they were amazed to learn it might be around 512 years old. That would make it the oldest living vertebrate in the world.
Greenland sharks, like this one, are known to live much longer than other animals. They grow very slowly and don’t even become adults until they’re about 150 years old. Some have been known to live nearly 400 years. But this shark, at 512 years, is a new record.
This means the shark was born in 1505—before Shakespeare was even born. The discovery was published in a research study. A marine biologist named Julius Nielsen and his team found this out by measuring radiocarbon in the shark’s eye lenses. That’s how they figured out its age.
“This shark is truly special. It’s among the oldest creatures on Earth,” the biologist said.
The study showed that Greenland sharks live even longer than scientists once believed. To learn more, Nielsen and his team studied 28 Greenland sharks. The way they determined the age of these sharks is much more accurate than before. Earlier, scientists guessed a shark’s age based on its size. Since Greenland sharks only grow about 0.4 inches per year, that method wasn’t very precise, especially as the sharks got older.
For years, researchers struggled to figure out how long these sharks live. Steven Campana, an expert from the University of Iceland, shared how surprising it is that they didn’t know if the sharks lived 20 years or 1,000 years, despite being a top predator in Arctic waters.
Julius Nielsen has spent much of his career learning about these sharks. He even showed a picture of one eating a polar bear carcass. He also mentioned that many of these sharks have little parasites stuck to their eyes, making them look a bit unhealthy.
Because Greenland sharks live for such a long time, they travel around the ocean and don’t stay in one place. Scientists found that many of the sharks share similar genes, suggesting that they all come from the same place and spread out over time. But how these sharks reproduce is still a mystery. What scientists do know is that these sharks prefer the cold Arctic waters.
Now, scientists are eager to learn why the Greenland shark lives so much longer than other animals. They hope that studying the shark’s genes might help them understand more about long life spans in other species too.
“This is the oldest vertebrate on Earth,” said the biologist. “We’re working with scientists from Denmark, Greenland, the USA, and China to study the shark’s entire genetic code. This might help us understand why this shark outlives other sharks and vertebrates.”
When asked how the shark could live over 500 years, Nielsen guessed that the cold water and slow metabolism might be the key. But he admits that more research is needed to know for sure.
Living in a busy city makes it easy to forget about the beauty of nature. Cars zoom by, tall buildings touch the sky, and people rush everywhere. But some people, like Mithun, a wildlife photographer from India, help us remember the wonders of the world. Mithun takes pictures of leopards and other big cats, and his work touches the hearts of over 500,000 people on Instagram.
One of his photos became very popular. In the picture, a black panther and a leopard are standing together. The way they are positioned makes it look like the black panther is casting a shadow of the leopard. Both cats are calm and staring right at the camera, as if they are aware of the beauty of the moment. This image captured so many people’s attention and quickly went viral.
Two Cats, One Silent Shadow
Mithun remembers that moment clearly. “Whenever I think about it, I can see it in my mind just like it was yesterday,” he says. For him, it was a rare chance. It took a lot of patience. The panther and leopard were deep in the jungle, hidden from view. Mithun waited for six days in the same spot to get the perfect shot. The animals were so still because they had just made a big kill. Mithun had learned from years of experience that sometimes you have to wait quietly and patiently for nature to show itself.
When asked what he enjoys most about taking wildlife pictures, Mithun says it’s the surprise. “You never know what’s coming next,” he smiles. “That’s what makes it exciting. You never know when you’ll see something amazing. It might take a long time, but those small, magical moments are worth everything.”
Sarge was a big, strong German Shepherd. When people see dogs like him, they often think of fierce protectors. But Sarge was different. He was gentle, and his heart was as big as his paws.
Sarge lived on a small farm in Ohio with Cheryl, his owner, who loved animals more than anything. She had been rescuing animals since she was a little girl. Over the years, she had brought home all kinds of animals in need, and Sarge was always there, ready to help. But there was something special about him when it came to baby deer, or fawns.
One day, Cheryl brought home a small, injured fawn. It needed care, and Sarge immediately took to it. He didn’t bark or growl; instead, he laid down beside the fawn and watched over it. He became the fawn’s protector, and it was as if Sarge knew exactly what to do. The two were inseparable.
Sarge used to be playful. When he was a young pup, he loved to run around, bite toes, and chase the kids. But now, he was calm, especially around the animals Cheryl rescued. The farm had a mix of creatures—Big Roo, the rooster, Gibby the horse, Corn Pone the pony, and even a baby goat named Hildie. And there was Bucky the cow, a black sheep, and a few hens. Sarge got along with all of them, treating each one like a friend.
Cheryl also had four other dogs: Brownie, Dingo, Doodle, and Scrunchers. They were all good dogs, but Sarge had a quiet, gentle way about him. He was a true friend to every animal that came through their farm.
Cheryl would often share pictures of the animals on the farm. People who saw them couldn’t help but fall in love with the pictures. They admired Cheryl’s kindness, and the love she and Sarge showed to the animals. They didn’t ask for anything in return—they just wanted to help.
Sarge, the big, strong dog, wasn’t just a protector. He was a soft, loving heart in the body of a guard dog, always ready to care for those in need.
Spring is a time when everything feels new and full of life. Flowers bloom, birds sing, and little animals are born. In the spring, you can often see baby foxes playing in the fields and forests. It’s a special time to watch them learn about the world around them.
One day, a person named Vechrotex shared a picture of some baby foxes playing on their grandmother’s porch. The little foxes looked so curious, peeking through the window as if they were wondering what was inside. One fox came alone at first, but soon came back with a friend. The two of them ran around, chasing each other and having so much fun. It was like they were playing a game, laughing in their own way.
Their mom watched over them from a distance, keeping an eye on her little ones as they explored. Vechrotex’s grandma said that the mother fox often came by, always close to her babies. She said it made her happy to see the foxes every day, knowing they felt safe there.
In Illinois, where Vechrotex’s grandmother lives, red foxes are pretty common in the forests. But even so, seeing these little ones play on the porch was a joy. One day, Vechrotex’s grandma took a picture of one of the baby foxes and showed it to Vechrotex. It was such a sweet photo that Vechrotex decided to share it with everyone online. “I’m so happy I could make people smile,” Vechrotex said.
It’s clear that Vechrotex’s grandma loved watching the fox family visit every day. Can you imagine sitting in a cozy house in the forest, watching the baby foxes play and grow? It must feel magical, like a piece of nature brought right to her doorstep.
Looking at these frogs, you might wonder, “Why do they look so sad?” But it’s not that they’re sad—it’s just how they look. These frogs come from the Southern Coast of Africa. They live in small holes in the ground, about 6 inches deep.
What makes the African rain frog special is how small it is, but it can puff up to twice its size when it feels threatened. Even though it’s tiny, it’s very strong and can stretch to about two inches long. These frogs like to live in the edges of forests. They don’t need water like other frogs; they can live happily in their burrows, hiding away from the world.
When these frogs feel scared, they puff up to protect themselves. It makes it harder for anything to pull them out of their home. During mating season, the female rain frog stays close to the male by covering him in a sticky substance. It’s like she doesn’t want to let go. Maybe we’d call it loyalty. The male stays with her, guarding the eggs until the tiny baby frogs are born.
These frogs may seem a little grumpy or strange, but they’re really just trying to survive, just like anyone else.
There’s a little owl that lives in the big, tall sycamore trees. It’s called the elf owl, and it’s very small, even smaller than a golf ball. This little owl waits for nightfall, when the world is quiet, and comes out from its cozy home in the tree. In the quiet of the West Texas desert, the elf owl is busy. It looks for bugs, lizards, and even tiny mice to eat.
The elf owl is a strong hunter, even though it’s so small. It will catch things like scorpions, too. But before eating them, it makes sure the stingers are gone. It keeps them in its nest to eat later when it’s hungry.
If you’re lucky, you might see one of these owls in the deserts of Texas or Arizona. They live in old woodpecker holes in the tall cacti that grow in the dry land. The elf owl might seem quiet, but it’s a fast and silent flier, moving without making much noise. You can feel the wind when its wings move.
When spring comes, the mommy owl lays 1 to 4 eggs. The father takes care of his family at first, bringing food to the mother and babies. After a little while, the mommy helps too. It’s a big job to keep everyone fed.
If something tries to hurt them, like a bigger owl, the elf owl doesn’t fight. It tries to hide or even play dead, so it’s safe.
When it starts to get colder, the elf owl flies away to Mexico, where it’s warmer and there are more insects. In the spring, it comes back to the desert, ready to start a new family.
In the quiet of the morning, the world was full of wonders. Birds flew, trees swayed, and the sun peeked through the clouds. A hawk, strong and sharp-eyed, was out searching for food. His wings cut through the air as he flew, looking for something to catch. As he flew, he spotted something on the ground. A duck, sitting so still in the grass. The hawk’s eyes narrowed.
He landed nearby, amazed by how calm and peaceful the duck seemed. The duck didn’t even look up. It was as if the hawk didn’t exist. The hawk felt a rush of surprise. Didn’t the duck know how powerful he was? Didn’t it understand that he was the one who hunted, the one who ruled the skies? He had never been ignored like this before.
The hawk moved closer, his sharp claws ready. But the duck stayed still, its eyes closed, its feathers soft in the morning light. The hawk felt frustrated. Didn’t the duck know fear? Didn’t it feel his presence? He tried again, this time circling the duck, hoping that maybe the bird would sense him now. He even nudged the duck with his beak, but nothing happened.
The hawk looked around, confused. Something was strange. He tried harder, poking and prodding at the duck, but it stayed still. After a while, the hawk gave up. He didn’t understand what was going on, but he knew it was time to move on. With one last look, he spread his wings and took off into the sky, feeling a little foolish but also curious about what he had just encountered.
The hawk would remember this day. He wouldn’t forget the strange duck, sitting so peacefully, not afraid at all. And though it wasn’t the fight he expected, it was a day he would never forget.
There are creatures that seem like they belong to stories, creatures that look so magical it’s hard to believe they’re real. The kind of creatures that fly high in the sky, with wings so big they almost touch the clouds. They can breathe fire and have long, scaly bodies. Dragons. Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, there’s something in the world that looks like a dragon?
The Great Eared Nightjar is one of those birds. When you see it, you might stop and stare, because it’s not like any bird you’ve ever seen before. It’s small but strong, with little ears that make it look so special, furry wings that stretch out wide, and a tiny beak you can barely see. It’s not a bird you forget quickly.
This bird, called Lyncornis Macrotis, lives in Southeast Asia. It likes to hide in the forests, mostly near rivers, where it hunts for insects. And just like dragons that live in the sky, the nightjar lives in its own special world, awake when others are asleep.
What’s even more amazing is how much the nightjar loves its egg. When it’s time for the bird to lay its egg, both the mother and father take care of it together, keeping it safe and warm. It’s like they’re sharing the love, making sure their little egg will grow up to be as strong as they are. And when the egg is on the ground, it blends in so well with the forest floor that it’s nearly invisible, protecting it from anyone who might want to harm it.
If you ever hear the nightjar’s call, consider yourself lucky. It’s a sound that will stay with you, like a sweet memory you never want to forget.
The world is full of creatures that we don’t always see or understand. The Great Eared Nightjar might not look exactly like the dragons from the stories, but it’s as close as we might ever come to a real one. And that’s pretty magical.
Dormice are small, quiet animals that look a lot like squirrels or chipmunks. They have big, round eyes and soft, bushy tails. These little creatures spend most of their time resting, especially in the winter when they sleep for a long, long time. It’s like they’re taking a big, peaceful nap. Dormice live in trees, bushes, or even in cozy nests made of leaves and plants. They like to eat fruit, nuts, and sometimes even small insects or bird eggs.
The biggest type of dormouse is called the edible dormouse. It’s a soft gray color and has a tail as long as 8 centimeters! But dormice are not just about resting. One dormouse became famous when a photographer named Andrea Zampatti took a picture of it. This little dormouse was laughing, and the photo won an award! It was a special moment, showing how funny and sweet these animals can be. Andrea has a gift for capturing the beauty and little wonders of wildlife, always making you feel the calm and wonder of the animals she photographs.
In the same way, we should love and care for all creatures, big and small, like the beautiful Great-crested grebe too.
