With Earth Day previously passed, it's a great time to reflect on the expansiveness and variability on our planet and how each of the species has adapted and evolved to be the creatures we know today. Below are thirteen adorable animal facts that should put a smile on your face and remind you of the importance of humans putting in their best efforts to keep the rest of these amazing species alive.
1. Gentoo penguins propose to their life mates with a pebble.
Males will search through piles of pebbles to find the smoothest and most perfect ones. After selecting the pebble, the male presents it to his desired counterpart. If she accepts the pebble, she will put the stone in her nest.
2. Male puppies will often let female puppies win when they're playing.
A scientist at the University of Michigan suggests that males use this self-handicapping technique in order to learn more about them and form a relationship with them, which could potentially lead to mating opportunities in the future.
3. Cats will often "headbutt" someone if they make them feel safe or trust them.
Often termed "bunting," the cats do this to mark something as safe. Or, in other words, it's a sign they are trusting that person or their environment.
4. Young Japanese Macaques monkeys will often make snowballs and participate in snowball fights.
They do not do this for any survival benefit. They just like to have fun.
5. Baby elephants suck their own trunks for comfort, just as baby humans suck their thumbs.
Other than the comfort it provides, it also might help them learn how to control their trunk.
6. Polar bears will often use nose-to-nose greetings to request a favor or food source.
The bear will simply approach the other, slowly circle around, and touch the other bear's nose with his/her own. If the bear uses proper manners, it will often be allowed to share the food source.
7. Squirrels will often take in orphaned relatives.
A study at the
8. Cows have best friends.
Research at Northampton University suggests cows have best friends. When paired with their best friends, the heart rates of the cows were significantly lower than being paired with a cow they did not know. This proposes cows have a greater level of personality than previously thought.
9. Sea otters will often hold hands with each other while they sleep to avoid drifting apart.
10. When a rabbit is overly happy, it will sometimes perform an action called a binky.
Sometimes termed the "happy bunny dance," a rabbit will jump into the air and twist its head and body in various directions before falling back toward the ground.
11. The red panda, often found in the Eastern Himalayas, will often use their tails not only for balance but also to cover themselves in the winter, presumably for warmth.
12. Baby female chimpanzees use sticks as dolls and care for them in a similar way a mother chimp would care for her offspring.
13. Dolphins have names for each other.
Dolphins have signature whistles and use them in the same way humans use names. Researchers conducted a study where they recorded each bottlenose dolphin's signature sound. Upon replay of the sounds, the dolphins would only respond to their own calls, and would not respond when the signature whistles were from different populations.