Animals

October 17, 2016

World’s Only Brown Panda Lives Happily in Chinese Nature Reserve

Qizai, an adorable resident of Foping National Nature Reserve, is not your standard panda bear. While China's cuddly creatures are known for their classic black-and-white color combo, Qizai’s brown and white fur is a little bit different—and extremely rare. The 7-year-old is the only known living panda with this uniquely colored coat, and scientists aren’t quite sure why. As a young cub, Qizai was found abandoned in Central China’s Qingling Mountain region.

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September 23, 2016

Macro Photos Capture the Dazzling “Mirror Spider” with Its Changing Mosaic of Reflective Panels

For the past several years, Nicky Bay has carefully observed the dazzlingly odd-looking arthropod known as the “mirror spider” (scientifically: “Thwaitesia argentiopunctata”). The Singapore-based photographer has concentrated his macro lens on this small creature whose midsection is cloaked in silvery, mosaic-like panels that reflect light. From certain angles, it looks like it’s wearing fabulous, tiny sequins. Thanks to Bay’s continued documentation, he has noticed that their appearance changes depending on the environmental circumstances.

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September 8, 2016

Adorable Mockingbird Wears Tiny, Homemade “Snowshoes” to Heal Her Injured Feet

Sometimes, all it takes to repair an injured bird is some cardboard, tape, and creativity. Recently, the California Wildlife Center (CWC) in Malibu rescued a Northern Mockingbird whose feet were “knuckling,” meaning she was unable to open her feet to walk or perch. The rescue team describes how the deformity forced the bird to stand on the tops of her toes which were curled underneath her—perhaps causing even more injury.

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August 29, 2016

Adorable Hamster Wears the World’s Tiniest Cast for a Broken Arm

Nobody likes to see an injured animal, but who can deny the cuteness of the photo Redditor GeorgeOnee shared of a very teeny hamster with an even tinier cast for his broken arm? Rather than exploiting an animal's vulnerability, the picture is an optimistic vision, revealing the road to recovery. Everyone has accidents, including animals—it's a part of life.

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