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Irrespective of the specie – excluding cockroaches of course – people always consider that baby animals are the most adorable thing on God’s green earth. Cubs have a certain appeal that, more often than not, seems to fade when the animal reaches maturity. To put it simply, while an animal has a debatable degree of “cuteness” that is mostly a matter of the personal opinion, during the early infancy stages you simply cannot look at it without exclaiming “Awwww!”

It is unknown whether or not the cuteness represents an evolved defensive mechanism for the animal that is otherwise helpless without the mother at this point and if the nurturing instincts of the parents are also influenced by it. Strangely enough, as theorized by Nobel Prize winner Konrad Lorenz, the cuteness is not an adaptation proprietary to primates and humans, but rather the babies of these species present distinct features that enable parents to recognize them. All the adaptations are made to suit the requirements of the environment, which means that the cuteness factor is obsolete. Let’s find out more about the things that make us love baby animals.

1. Puppies are the probably most helpless ones in the bunch

A puppy that is separated from its mother after birth has very few trump cards – aside of course from the adorable look that could get him adopted – and consequentially, limited chances of survival. To put it simply, the newborn puppy is deaf, blind and has no teeth, which means that it is virtually at the mercy of the world. Even the sense of smell, the trademark of the canine regnum, develops much later on, more exactly in about three weeks after being born. Therefore, you can’t really blame them for spending the first week sleeping 90% of the time, there aren’t many other things they can do for fun.

2. Kittens are born with different bone structures, based on the breed

In spite of the fact that the vast majority of kittens (over 90%) are born with the same blood type – A – their bone structure and the number of bones can differ radically from one breed to another. That is why certain breeds of cats grow significantly longer than others and the exponents are faster, more agile and have the ability to switch running direction easier.

3. Puppies and kitten share the same sweat gland position

The feline and the canine regnum may have differences since the end of time and a situation where the two types of animals actually get along are rare, but there is one thing they have in common: the position of the sweat glands. In other words, unlike most animals, both kittens and puppies are born with the sweat in the pads of the paws. However, only puppies pant in order to vent excess heat and when a kitten exhibits a panting behavior it typically indicates it is exposed to some form of stress.

4. Parrots give their offspring names

Unlike the negative propaganda enforced by pirate movies tells us, not all parrots are named Polly. Researchers have determined that soon after the parrot chick hatches from the eggs, its parents will give him a name which will also constitute the signature call of the bird. As the little parrot matures, he will adapt the original signature call to his “taste”, shortening/lengthening it with whistling or chirping. In other words, the parrot transforms his initial name into a nickname.

5. Baby chimpanzees love to play with dolls

Yeah, not only that but baby chimps are actually utilizing stones, sticks and dirt to make up their own dolls, guided by nothing but their imagination. At the same time, research shows that in most cases the behavior persists through maturity. Before you are quick to discard this hypothesis and attribute it to a nurturing instinct, you should know that several studies shown baby chimpanzees used the dolls in very different games that held no resemblance to the natural cradling/nurturing behavior.

Jessica Baranko argues that a university mascot is more than just a mascot; it is a symbol of the university and something that students can identify with when they graduate. Universities and also sports teams receive criticism from various interest groups such as PETA and Native American tribes in their use of mascots, or at the least the type of mascot. This article sets to examine the reasons why real life animals should not be used for sports and entertainment purposes.

1. Pain & Suffering:

Animals are living creatures that feel pain similarly to human beings. Jordi Casamitjan believes that suffering and pain are biological traits that have been evolving in animals the past millions of years. The spread of pain and suffering has evolved over the animal kingdom by natural selection.

Animals cannot convey their emotions or agree/disagree. They may only oppose the actions of humans with their body movement, which at times is not helpful. Many argue that because there is no consent, using animals for sports and entertainment should not be allowed.

2. Stress:

Animals do feel stressed when they are forced to do things they do not want. The best analogy for this is Jordi Casamitjan’s bullfight scene. A rope is tied to the bull’s neck. He shakes his head disapprovingly because he does not want to participate. He runs to the door and tries to leave the auditorium, only to be brought back by the fighter. Allowing the animal to be part of the entertainment causes stress as it goes against the will of the animal.

3. Inhumane:

This is unacceptable and inhumane. Arrests have been made the owner has treated his pet with cruelty. How is this situation different? Entertainment uses the animal for pleasure. How would any of us like it if we were tortured against our will? We would definitely say it is inhumane.

4. Welfare problems:

Animal Welfare Online argues that keeping animals like dolphins and whales in dolpharias causes welfare problems for the animals. Again, the idea of capturing the whale or dolphin can be very stressful which can cause injury or death to the animal trying to escape. All this is done to entertain humans.

5. No legitimate reason:

Unless it is absolutely necessary, there is no legitimate reason why animals should be used. Although many animals are used as mascots, they are not always treated humanely. Where do we draw the line? How should we draw the line?

This article was written for two main reasons. I personally had to endure a war between myself and an animal. A decade ago, I fought a bull dog for 30 minutes, trying to distract it. I would not be in one piece if it were not for a neighbour and a driver who helped me get rid of the problem, yet in the wrong way.

1. Steve Irwin vs. Stingray:

Better known as the Crocodile Hunter, Irwin was a wild man who performed stunts involved species of many kinds. His show the Crocodile Hunter was shown in 130 countries and had 50 million viewers. Sadly, his love for animals came to an abrupt end. He was pierced in the chest by a stingray and died.

2. Shannon Ainslie vs. Great White Sharks:

Not many people battle the great white sharks and can live to tell the tail. While surfing with his brother and friends, Ainslie was ambushed by 2 Great White Sharks. Thankfully, he survived. With 3 stitches and two reattached fingers, Ainslie still holds scars from the ambush. This; however, does not keep him from surfing.

3. Man vs. Kangaroo:

This is one of the most bizarre fights I’ve ever heard of. In China, a man dresses up like a clown and fights a kangaroo. Kangaroos are great fighters especially their forepaw jabs, grappling, and their own unique style of kickboxing.

4. Man vs. Leopard:

A number of people in the town of Nisak decided to thrown stones at a leopard to distract it. The leopard caught on to them and kidnapped a man who was one of those disturbing the leopard. The spectators ended up saving the man and were able to get rid of the leopard by clubbing it to death.

5. James Morrow vs. Alligator:

This fight ended well. Morrow was snorkeling in Florida. While snorkeling, he found his head inside of an alligator. He is one of the few to have lived to survive. The alligator put Morrow’s head to its taste buds and let go.

Animals, including insects are unique. They standout for the number of legs they exhibit. I cannot imagine having more than 100 legs. Can you imagine what you could do? Let’s take a glimpse in the life of those with multiple legs.

1. Millipede-Illacme plenipes (750)

This is a type of millipede that is found in California. It tops this list of having the most. However, the average is usually around 600, which still makes it # 1. One should be advised that they are part of the phylum Arthropoda family which literally means jointed legs.

2. Centipede-Himuntarum Gabrielis(354)

These are also anthropodes which literally means jointed legs. They are known to have odd number of legs and never even. They have a rounded and flat face with antennas that are at a forward margin, 4 mandibles and 4 maxilae.

3. Centipede-Haploophilus subterraneus (178)

This is a different type of centipede then the one that was previously discussed. It should be noted that centipedes can have as little as 20 legs and as big as 354.

4. Millipedes-others (30)

Other millipedes other than the type in # 1 position are average. Many common species of millipedes have around 36 to 400 legs. It is still hard to count since there are 10,000 species which are distributed into 13 orders and 115 families.

5. Symphyians (24)

They are better known as garden centipedes and are basically soil-dwelling anthropods. They look like centipedes, but are smaller and shiny. As many of them get older, they grow more legs at each moult.

All embryos of mammals are set to become female. The existence of a single gene on the Y chromosome persuades the development of the testes in an embryo. This makes the embryo become a male.

1. Pig:

Sperm/Ejaculation: 60-80 billion

Description: Sexual Development in boars (male pigs) is triggered by the Y chromosome and the androgen. At between 20 and 40 days old, Y chromosomes allow germ cells and the male reproductive tract to divide. It takes about 5 weeks for sperm to produce and 2 weeks to go through epidermis.

2. Zebra:

Sperm/Ejaculation: 40 billion

Description: By 48 months, Zebras ejaculate this amount of sperm. Spermatozoa first appears at 31 months.

3. Donkey:

Sperm/Ejaculation: 14.5 billion

Description: When a female horse is mating with a male donkey (jack), a mule is conceived. When a female donkey mates with a horse stallion, then a hiney is conceived. Jacks are the ones that have larger testicles than stallions. It also takes 5-30 minutes for a jack to complete the breeding act.

4. Horse:

Sperm/Ejaculation: 11 billion

Description: Poor health causes a stallion (male horse) to have poor semen levels. The sex glands are not required to provide seminal fluids. The vesicular glands are the most difficult to palpate because they are shrunken before teasing.

5. Bull:

Sperm/Ejaculation: 5-10 billion

Description: Bull sperm is made up of various substances such the acid Taurine. This should not be confused with the Taurine in drinks. This in fact is artificially made.

Having and raising a pet can be a rewarding experience and this can be ascertained by those who have pets in their homes. However, you can only achieve a sense of satisfaction by ensuring that your pet is well cared for. Just as you need to exercise on a daily basis so does your pet. Nonetheless, unknown to some pet owners is that pets can also get their exercise while at home. To ensure that your pet is well cared for, you need to consider its nutrition, entertainment and training. Entertainment can be provided for in form of toys while training entails teaching your animal to behave.

The following are ten different ways through which you care for your pets.

1. Training:

Training is a means through which you can make certain that your pet is well provided for and that it is comfortable. Training techniques ought to include rules that your pet should adhere to at all times while in the house. Showing your animal on how to behave when they are around guests, toddlers as well as other pets is vital. This ensures that your pet is not at loggerheads with individuals and other animals in the house. Moreover, a well trained pet is guaranteed to get more attention that in the long run will be of benefit to it. The moment you have determined the fundamental training which your pet requires, then you can show it a number of tricks. For example, constantly playing with your pet can help to build the bond between you and pet.

2. Bathing and Grooming:

As a person, you are able to feel confident and good about yourself because of the bath and grooming which you receive. The same applies when you bath and groom your pet regularly. There are numerous bath and grooming items for pets available in the market at an affordable price. When you have a clean and well groomed pet, not only will it feel comfortable and fresh, but, you will also feel confident about it. Pets such as cats and dogs love to be groomed. There are several advantages of grooming a pet, i.e. preventing fur from matting and enhancing the posture of your pet. By clipping the nails of your pet, you will be giving it the much needed comfort whilst walking. Pets can be bathed in a basin or bathtub.

3. Toys and Games:

One of the reasons why a majority of people have pets is to give them company and keep them entertained. During the weekend, you can play with your pet in your backyard or take it to a park. As such, you can keep your pet active in the house by buying for them toys and teaching them a couple of games to keep them busy. Therefore, when you are at work or school, you can rest assured that you will not have a bored pet back in the house. Unknown to some folks is that games can equip your pet with the much needed mental simulation. Furthermore, it increases the bond between you and the pet. For a choice of toys to buy for your pet, just log online and browse for pet stores. You will be surprised at the various toys available for different types of pets.

4. Nutrition:

To be healthy and strong, you need to eat a balanced diet continually. The most basic means through which you can provide for your pet is by offering it a good diet. There are various kinds of foods available in the market for different types of pets. For instance, there is dog and cat food. Moreover, the food which you decide to give to your pet should be in tandem with the diet needs of the animal. For instance, if you have a cat that has issues with urinary tract then the food which you give it needs to be low on ash. The adage, “you are what you eat” also applies to animals. Therefore, what you decide to feed it will influence their health.

5. Health:

Your pet’s health will be determined greatly not only by the food that you give it but also on how frequently you take it to the veterinary. You need to know that your pet does interact with other animals when out of the house. Therefore, the likelihood of it picking certain illnesses is high. Other than that, you need to immunize your pet against certain diseases. For example, dogs are vaccinated against rabies.

Rainforests are found in different parts of the world and receive hundreds of visitors annually given the bio diversity that exists therein. In fact, if statistics is anything to go by, it is believed that over half of the species in the world resides in the rainforests. The beauty presented by the rainforests is so magical that it cannot easily be put in words. You only have to visit the one of the many rainforests, such as Amazon or Daintree or Alaska to see the lush beauty.

Nonetheless, the forests are also a home to some of the most dangerous animals in the world. There have been cases where lives have been lost when the animals felt threatened by the human presence. Illustrated herein are some of the most dangerous animals that can be found in the vast rainforests worldwide.

1. Cassowaries:

This is an animal you do not want to have contact with. They are ratites (a type of flightless bird) that live in the tropical forests of New Guinea. Male Cassowaries are overprotective parents who will kill if they and their young ones feel threatened. Try hiding and holding still as you see one of these animals. Usually they will walk away.

2. Scorpions:

Scorpions live mostly in the Tropical Rainforest. They largely eat insects and spiders. Their enemies are snakes and animals that are larger than them. Interestingly enough, the female kills and eats the male scorpion after mating.

The Scorpion kills its prey with its tail that has a stinger on it. Humans are sometimes their targets. It is thought that there are 10 scorpion inflicted deaths for every snake death in the developing countries.

3. Jaguar:

The jaguar is the largest and the most powerful wildcat; larger than a leopard. An adult jaguar can be 4 to 7 feet long, without the tail. They are mostly found in North America, in parts of Texas, Colorado and Arizona. As they prefer wet lowlands, their favourite place to live is the tropical and subtropical forests. When it comes to prey, it eats more than 80 types of animals, including cattle, rodents, deer, birds, and fish. The jaguar only hunts humans, if they feel cornered. They are the most destructive and dangerous as they do kill people’s cattle and horses.

4. Bengal Tiger:

The Bengal tiger is mainly located in rainforests found in Asia. It can live up to 15 years and can have litters of up to four cubs. As it is a carnivore, it eats boars, wild oxens and monkeys. The Bengal Tiger actually accounts for over half of the tigers that reside in the wild. Apparently, the Bengal tigers attack human beings when it feels threatened and intimidated. Although humans are not their intended target, tigers are always cautious and have shown no preference for human meat.

5. Poison Arrow Frog:

Poison Arrow Frog is the most deadly of all kinds of frogs in the world. It is mainly found in rainforests located in Central and South America. The frog measures between 1.5 and 2.4 cm long. The most toxic of all is the golden poison arrow. The venom from the frog is enough to kill ten men. They secrete toxins through their skins.

Many families treat their pets as if they were their own children. Many pets have been popularized on TV shows such as the Simpsons where the family owns a dog, cat and a pig at one point. Others may go to the extremes and buy themselves a rat or even a skunk to use as a pet. It was quite common in the past as it is today to buy a pig for a pet in a rural area. As such, here are the top 10 unusual pets people welcome into their homes. Raise your hand if you have one of these.

1. Skunk:

One cannot help but associate this animal with their black/white fur and the foul smell they spray when attacked or about to be harmed. Although an outdoor animal, it is common to raise skunks indoors as a companion. Many individuals in the Netherlands, Italy, Canada and the United States buy skunks for these purposes. The emitting scent glands are of course taken out to make this animal more human friendly. Many countries still ban skunks from being house pet. If you are thinking of purchasing one, check your laws.

2. Rats:

These destructive and pesky rodents are also quite common, yet unusual to have as pets. There are fancy rats which have been domesticated for humans to buy at pet shops. They are small, live up to 2 years and do not carry diseases like those who have caused the bubonic plague. One should realize that not many visitors will like seeing a rat, so if you have one, do not keep him/her on the loose.

3. Ferret:

This animal is only allowed in 9 states in the United States. House-trained for 2000 years, it is an exotic animal that is dangerous to keep, especially around children. In Grand Valley, Missouri a ferret ate a child’s 7 fingers up to his knuckles. Both parents were charges with reckless endangerment. If you’re wondering why this is an unusual pet to have, look up Vinnie the Ferret and his war dance pose.

4. Pigs:

These animals are also unusual to have. Popular culture on the Simpsons: The Movie domesticated this animal. In the movie, Homer Simpson brought home a pig which he adored and buddied like a dog. Pigs are smart, and they will be able to get into anything like the drawers. When trained properly they could become the warmest and the kindest pets one may have. If improperly trained, they could be destructive.

5. Monkey:

One Versailles man will put his health and the wellbeing of others’ in danger to have a monkey help his wife who is sick with cancer. The animal carries Herpes B virus which can spread to humans easily. In 2009, another Chimpanzee left a woman with life threatening facial disfigurement. Even though the damage can be severe, monkeys are domesticated pets.

We dwell on a marvelously assorted globe and share it with an enthralling and incredible assortment of creatures in the wild in an abundance of varied habitats. At top-10-list.org, we are excited about the wildlife and scenery our planet has to provide, and in identifying this, our writers has generated from the archives some of the best wildlife photospheres. There are wide varieties to select from, but those featured herein have been identified for their distinct scenery, the uncommonness of the encounter and the pure sight you are probably to take pleasure in. Listed below are the top ten wildlife photographers of the year.

1. The Snow Leopard – Steven Winter

Taken by Steven Winter in India’s Hemis National Park is the award winning snow leopard. The photograph won the award- Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, an event organized by the Natural History Museum. The photo was taken at night in the freezing cold and the photographer Steven Winter admitted that it was quite challenging taking a photo on those conditions. He later said that prior to his wining he had shot more than 30,000 wildlife photos. The endangered specie finally made it to the top.

2. Man and Whale – Brian Skerry

Number two on the list is man and whale photo taken by Brian Skerry. This spectacular image won the best under water wildlife category in the annual Natural Museum event. The photo was captured off New Zealand’s Auckland Islands. This is the area where pure inhabitants were discovered a decade ago. Getting the perfect shot was not that easy as they had not seen a human and drastic measure had to be taken to lure one for the best shot. The photographer revealed that he had to set up his assistant as bait even though the animal is friendly.

3. Black Colobus Monkey- David Maitland

Not all wildlife stories are good to write home about. Some are desperation to highlight the ever rising conflict between humans and nature. This picture won in the category of One Earth Award that attempts to show the plight of wild animals at the hands of humans desperate to make a dollar. The photo shows a black colobus monkey whose fur is being singed in readiness for an illegal bush-meat sale in Gabon. The fur is singed out so that the creature can be sold naked but whole. Whereas, the image may be disturbing, it tells of a story of wildlife that in a few years will not be in existence.

4. Deadlock- David Maitland

David Maitland the UK- based photographer seems to know how to take award winning photographs. At number seven on the top ten wildlife photographers is this image that was ultimately named deadlock that won the Animal Behavior award in the same event organized by Natural History Museum. The image was taken deep in the night somewhere in the Belizean rain forest. The photographer said that he had to watch from 3.am and could not come to a conclusive conclusion on who won the fight. He had to call it a day due to exhaustion and to date does not know if the frog or the snake won the fight.

5. Cyril Ruoso – Winner Animal Behavior: Mammals Category

This is truly an amazing story of three hunters. At number five is a story of three chimpanzees that are unable to make a decision on how to share a hunt led by the group leader holding the trophy. Captured by Cyril Ruoso in the thick forests in Tanzania Gombe National Park, is the award winning photo in Mammals category. It is rare for chimpanzees to get such a rare catch given that their hunt usually targets smaller monkeys.

Elucidating the top 10 fastest flying birds from a bulky catalogue of birds considering its heterogeneity and variety really requires some thought provoking search initiative. Birds are the nature’s one of the most beautiful creatures that caught the imagination of the poets cutting across generations and regions to jot down a few lines of their sonnets or couplets with finesse. The beauty and the versatile acrobatic maneuvers that mostly birds of different kinds perform with ease, while soaring high in the sky is really something awesome and that’s why people belonging to different shades of life whenever gets time of their hectic schedule and programs tries to catch a glimpse of these nature’s cutest and even sometimes boldest flying vertebrate and endothermic animals.

The list of ten fastest flying birds which was more or less accepted in a worldwide manner:

1. Grey-headed albatross:

Also known as Thalassarche chrysostoma, the albatross has a circumpolar distribution over cold sub Antarctic and Antarctic waters. It averages 81 cm in length and 2.2 m in wingspan and can weigh between 2.8 to 4.4 kg. It is the fastest bird, flying at 127 kilometres per hour.

2. Common Eider:

Eider Duck (also known as Somateria mollissima) happens to be the second fastest flying bird in the world with maximum speed of 76 kilometers. Mostly seen in the Northern Hemisphere, They are large sea ducks belonged to the genus Somateria and the broader family of Anatidae.

3. Bewick’s Swan:

This is a Holarctic swan which is also known as the Cygnus Columbianus. They are the smallest species of swans to visit Great Britain and are inclined to ceaseless wanderlust. Bewick’s Swan is similar in appearance to its sister species, the Whooper Swan, but is smaller, has a shorter neck and has a more rounded head shape with an adjustable bill pattern. It is the third fastest bird, flying at 72 kilometres per hour.

4. Barnacle Goose:

The bird was first classified in 1803 by Johann Matthäus Bechstein and was originally named Branta Leucopsis. In England, the world barnacle represented the word goose. The bird itself is medium-sized, 55-70cm long and has a wingspan of 130-145cm. It has a white face and breast and black head, neck, and upper breast.

The Barnacle Goose is the 4th fastest bird and flies at 68 kilometres per hour.

5. Common Crane:

This bird is better known as Grus Grus and comes from a family of Gruidae (the cranes). It is a large stately bird which is approximately 100-130cm long and has a wingspan of 180-240cm. Its features include a grey with a white facial streak and a bunch of black wing plumes. Many adults also have a red crown patch. What distinguishes the crane from others is its loud trumpeting call it gives in flight and display. It also has a dancing display when jumping with wings elevated.

The bird is the 4th fastest bird tying with the barnacle at 68 kilometres per hour.