Whether you're plugging through finals week, in the middle of a winter slump, or just in need of a pick-me-up, animals are a sure way to put a smile on your face. Take a break from whatever trials you're dealing with to enjoy this odd assortment of animals with interesting achievements to their names:
1. Sir Nils Olav.
That's right, it's Sir Nils Olav. This plucky little penguin is an official knight and serves as Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian National Guard. Sir Olav was originally selected by Lieutenant Nils Egelian in 1972 to be the army's mascot and lance corporal. Since then, Nils has risen in the ranks and serves proudly to this day.
2. Mike the Headless Chicken.
In 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen attempted to chop off the head of a rooster named Mike. To his surprise, Mike was still alive and well the next morning, albeit headless. The Olsens decided to take care of him, and Mike became known as the "Headles Wonder Chicken." Although he died after 18 months, he is remembered in the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival. Mike's bizarre story proves you don't need a head to be famous.
3. Mayor Stubbs.
Stubbs the cat serves as the honorary mayor of Talkeenta, Alaska. He was elected in 1997 and continues his term today at the age of 17. Mayor Stubbs is a friendly, lenient mayor and adored by all. Maybe what the world needs is more cat politicians and less human ones.
4. Moonie.
Although many talented animals have graced the silver screen, we must pay special tribute to Moonie, the late Chihuahua most famous for playing Bruiser Woods in "Legally Blonde." Moonie passed away this week at 18 years old after a long life in showbiz. Costar Reese Witherspoon tweeted a touching farewell to the little dog, calling him a "sweet little Chihuahua who was very loved." Rest in Peace, Moonie.
5. Clever Hans.
Clever Hans was a horse in the 1800s supposedly capable of correctly answering mathematical questions posed by his owner, William Van Osten. Osten would ask questions and the horse would tap out the answer with his hoof. Clever Hans demonstrated his skills to the public to much success until psychologist Oskar Pfungst determined the horse was basing when to stop tapping on subtle physical cues from his master. Although Hans may not actually have been a mathematician, the "Clever Hans Effect" is now used to describe the minute clues we present when asking questions.
6. Knee-Hi the Donkey.
At a minuscule 25.29 inches, Knee-Hi the miniature donkey holds the Guiness World Record for shortest donkey. Not only is Knee-Hi quite short, but also incredibly cute.
7. Pierre Brassau.
This sassy chimp helped execute one of the best hoaxes in all of history. In 1964, Journalist Ake Axelsson had the chimp (originally named Peter) create paintings and then exhibited them under the name of Pierre Brassau. Brassau's work was shown in prestigious galleries and critics praised the "modern art," unaware of its true creator. The truth eventually got out, and Peter spent the rest of his years in the Chester Zoo.
8. Alex the Parrot.
The African grey parrot Alex is famous for his remarkable intelligence. Alex was studied by animal psychologist Irene Pepperidge over the course of a 30-year study. His accomplishments include counting and understanding basic math concepts, knowing over 100 words, asking existential questions, and even saying "I'm sorry" when people seemed upset, a skill some humans still struggle with. Although Alex passed away in 2007, his memory lives on in the Alex Foundation.
9. Ham the Chimp.
In 1961, Ham the chimp made history as the first primate in space. It was only after Ham's successful mission that Alan Shepherd, the first American man in space, made the journey. Ham lived out the rest of his life in the National Zoo with the honor of having boldly gone where no chimp had gone before.
10. Grumpy Cat.
Tardar Sauce, aka "Grumpy Cat," took the Internet by storm in 2012 after a Reddit photo made her disgruntled face famous. Since then, Grumpy Cat continues to fill the online world with memes and gives hope to RBF sufferers everywhere. If only I could make $100 million being grouchy...
Have fun or crazy animal stories of your own? Comment below and share the talents of your furry friends.
