Posts by Geoff May
You can turn elephant dung into paper
There’s no need to let all that fresh elephant dung go to waste. It contains enough undigested fiber that it can be used to create paper and paper products. By recycling elephant waste in this way, it not only creates job opportunities, it also helps preserve forests and puts significant value on the lives of … Continued
These insects survive by mimicking twigs
There are over 3000 different species of stickbug, and each one is built to blend in with its local flora.
An insect so strange even its name is weird
Some people call this creature a whip spider, while others call it a whip scorpion. In fact it is neither a scorpion nor a spider, and while it does have an unusual name, that’s not the weirdest thing about this bug.
Why do bees work together?
When it comes to survival, bees have learned that cooperation is key. Instead of trying to fend for themselves, bees work together for the greater benefit of the hive and exhibit an altruistic behaviour.
Why do zebras have stripes?
Not everyone can agree on why zebras have stripes. Some believe that they help with thermoregulation, while others think the stripes play a role in social interaction. Whatever the reason, we can all agree that the stripes are remarkable and beautiful.
Young cheetahs make their first kill
When it comes to survival, there are many important lessons for a mother to pass down to her offspring. For cheetahs, one of the most important lessons is the hunt. After stirring up a herd of impalas, the mother cheetah will usually take a back seat to the hunt and let her children do all … Continued
You live on land thanks to this walking fish
Spoiler alert: You were once a fish. No, not recently – we’re talking 400 million years ago, when most animals living on Earth were in the water. It was around this time that Tetrapods, fish with walking limbs, started appearing on land. Millions of years of evolution later, our planet becomes home to a number … Continued
How did giraffes get so tall?
When it comes to height, giraffes have a neck above everyone else. But why did they evolve such long necks and slender legs? How come giraffes need to be so tall? As with many evolutionary adaptations, it has plenty to do with food.
Nature, you can be one scary place
Vampires? Werewolves? Zombies? Sure, they can be scary, but they’re not real. From the creepiest of crawlies to sharp-fanged beasts, nature is full of creatures that will send shivers down your spine… and they’re not make-believe.
Watch: A Pack Of Lions Take Down And Wildebeest
When it comes to hunting for a meal, lions know how to get the job done. Females work together to encircle and capture their prey, while the male stays behind to look after the cubs. Surprisingly, lions don’t have a lot of stamina, and can only run in short bursts. This is why they will … Continued
The secret to survival according to green tree frogs
Its red eyes really make this little frog stand out, which is not what you want when predators come calling. So what tricks has this creature learned in order to avoid becoming a snake’s snack? Well—with over 250 million years of evolution under its belt—quite a lot actually. Have a watch of the video to … Continued
Frustrated elephants have had enough of noisy motorcycles
A motorcyclist traveling through Khao Yai National Park in Thailand found himself on the wrong side of the herd, when a pack of angry elephants charged his noisy motorbike. The elephants were agitated due to a group of motorists that had sped through the same area moments earlier, and by the time this guy was … Continued
Mother whale and mother dolphin take their kids for a stroll
Add this to the mix of odd animal friendships: a mother whale and her calf were spotted swimming along with a mother dolphin and her calf. The footage, captured via drone by YouTube user Vern Sky-Pro, shows the pair of whales calmly following the path of the dolphins. The notion of whales and dolphins getting … Continued
The horrific effect of deforestation summed up in one photo
Scattered among the piles of twigs and rubble, a young koala searches desperately for her home. She’s lost, alone and confused, for what was once a budding forest full of life is now scrap and debris. The young female koala, nicknamed Ash, was rescued by a volunteer from Wildcare Australia Inc. after she was spotted wandering … Continued
Watch an elephant's first moments of life as mother shows off her calf to her rescuers
It’s a tale we’ve heard one too many times in recent years, an elephant is struck down by poachers, leaving behind young that must struggle to survive. But what starts as a sad tale about an elephant losing her mother takes a bright turn, as Wendi the elephant begins her own journey of motherhood. When … Continued
Rare albino whale takes a swim with his mum
Spotting southern right whales in Australia is pretty uncommon, but seeing an albino southern right whale is even rarer. The Department of Parks and Wildlife at the Fitzgerald River National Park in Australia managed to capture some incredibly unique drone footage of a pod of four southern right whales. What makes the footage that much more … Continued
Divers left in awe of giant sunfish
Holy mola, that’s a big fish! While diving off the coast of Santa Maria Island in Portugal, a group of divers encountered an extraordinarily giant sunfish, or Mola mola. Photographer Miguel Pereira managed to capture some amazing footage of the creature, who didn’t seem to mind the company. ‘[W]hen diving with a GoPro I saw … Continued
Killer whales spotted hunting and devouring helpless dolphin in New Zealand
There’s a reason why they’re called killer whales. During a fishing trip in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, 12-year-old Jackson Baker and his father Richard spotted a pod of orcas swimming and splashing about near their boat. The boy did what any excited whale watcher would do: he grabbed a camera and began to film. … Continued
Baby hippo tries to play with crocodile
Fans of Disney’s Peter Pan know to ‘never smile at a crocodile’, but that does not seem to be a concern for this young hippopotamus. A resident at the Turgwe Hippo Trust in Zimbabwe, George the 9-month-old hippo seems absolutely overcome with joy at the sight of the tolerant croc. According to Karen Paolillo, who … Continued
Horse trapped in snow rescued by kind-hearted snowboarders
What started as a normal day of snowboarding turned into an epic rescue story. While celebrating his 21st birthday in the snow-laden Chilean Andes, Rafael Pease spotted something unusual sticking out of the snow. At first glance, Pease wrote it off as a rock, but soon realised that he and his friend had come across … Continued
Ever wondered what a chameleon giving birth looks like?
Most chameleons—in fact most reptiles—are oviparous: offspring develop externally of the mother, inside an egg, until they are ready to hatch. However, some species of chameleon, such as the Cape dwarf chameleon here, are ovoviviparous: instead of developing externally in an egg, the young reptile gestates inside its mother until it is ready to enter … Continued
Is this the world's smallest snail?
While collecting soil samples in China’s Guanxi province, researchers discovered something very interesting (and very, very tiny). Meet Angustopila dominikae, a new species of microsnail that is so small, it’s said that 10 of them could fit inside the eye of a needle. Their shells alone are only 0.86mm in height! Angustopila dominikae could be … Continued
Young elephant practices his bravery
This baby elephant does not take kindly to tourists! While visiting the Kruger National Park in South Africa, a group of safari-goers came across the path of a herd of elephants. The youngest member of the pachyderm troop decides that he’s had enough of tourists, and tries to pick a fight with their vehicle. Fortunately … Continued
She thought it was a cat, but what she'd seen was way more interesting than that
After stepping out onto her driveway, Susan Lichty of Lempster, New Hampshire, thought she’d spotted a feline visitor rummaging through the grass. However, once she whipped out her phone to film the creature, Susan realised she’d stumbled onto an animal much, much rarer: an albino porcupine. ‘I saw an animal, a white animal, and I thought at first it … Continued
Seal surfs on a humpback whale's back
Surfing is a popular pastime in Australia, as millions of people flock to its beaches to catch some serious waves. And the sport seems to have caught on among our marine friends. While whale watching off the southern coast of New South Wales, photographer Robyn Malcolm managed to capture a photograph of a fur seal … Continued
Fishermen pursued by a pod of orcas
During a fishing trip five miles off of Point Loma, San Diego, two fishermen came across a pod of killer whales. They managed to capture some amazing footage both above and below the water of the orcas as they pursued the boat. It’s worth noting that boat engines are very hazardous for whales. So if … Continued
