Animals

A large brown bear standing in rushing water.

United States

Hefty Winner

October 7, 2026

A brown bear named Backpack was crowned (not literally) 2026 Fat Bear Week champion on September 29. Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament. It takes place online via Explore.org, a nonprofit that operates live nature cameras. People vote for…

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A woman wearing a lab coat and gloves observes a rat inside an enclosed testing area.

World

Aw, Rats!

October 1, 2026

Rats have a bad rap. They’re thought of as filthy creatures that spread disease. HeroRats are changing that reputation. These African pouched rats use their sense of smell to save lives. Instead of carrying a disease, they help detect and…

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A small spotted wild cat prowls through dense forest vegetation.

World

Small but Fierce

September 28, 2026

In the Andes mountains, a tiny cat called a tilcayo has been identified. Scientists introduced the cat in a study published on September 17 in Current Biology. It says the tilcayo is the first new wild cat species found in…

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Two people examine a young tiger cub while one holds it securely.

World

Tiger Cub Care

September 15, 2026

Three Sumatran tiger cubs born at Attica Zoological Park, in Athens, Greece, are now two months old. On September 8, the cubs received ID microchips and their first vaccinations. Their birth is a milestone for the critically endangered species. “The…

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An adult rhino and a young rhino walk side by side across dry ground.

World

Saving Wild Rhinos

September 1, 2026

Namibia has recorded its lowest rhino poaching, or illegal hunting, numbers in a decade. In 2025, 41 rhinos were poached, compared with 75 the year before. Namibia is home to more than a third of Africa’s black rhino population. Communities,…

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A black-and-white dog wearing a yellow covering lies inside a large medical scanner.

Science

Canine Intuition

August 18, 2026

Have you ever felt that your dog can read your mind? Many pet owners feel this way. But it’s not mind reading: It’s face reading. That’s according to a study published August 10 in the journal iScience. Researchers found that…

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Large sea lion resting on a crowded dock beside the water.

United States

Surprise Visitor

May 14, 2026

In March, a massive sea lion plopped onto a pier in San Francisco, California, delighting onlookers. Quickly nicknamed Chonkers, the Steller’s sea lion weighed about 2,000 pounds—more than twice the weight of the California sea lions usually seen in San…

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A raccoon hangs from a bird feeder and reaches for food with one paw.

Science

Puzzling Raccoons

April 16, 2026

Raccoons are clever. Studies have shown their ability to solve puzzles to get food. A study published this year in Animal Behaviour shows that their puzzling may not always be for a reward: Sometimes, they’re just learning. Researchers gave raccoons…

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An adult gorilla sits on the ground holding two baby gorillas close.

World

Gorilla Multiples

April 2, 2026

In March, gorilla twins were born in Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. That makes nine mountain gorillas, including two sets of twins, born in Virunga this year. The park is taking part in a species conservation…

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giant tortoise walks across green grass on a hillside with a wide valley and cloudy sky in the background.

Science

Tortoises Return

March 6, 2026

Two hundred years ago, a species of giant tortoises roamed Floreana Island, part of Ecuador’s Galápagos island chain. In the mid-1800s, these tortoises were hunted to extinction. Now they’re back. In February, nearly 160 giant tortoises were released on Floreana…

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