This Animal Kills the Most Humans Every Year—and It’s Not the One You’re Thinking Of

Posted on February 5, 2019

When you think about a deadly animal, you may think shark, lion, or even a rhino. However, according to several studies, the deadliest animal in the world is much smaller and way more irritating. There are more than 100 varieties of this thing, and it feeds on human blood, transporting a vast array of diseases from one person to next. Figure it out, yet? That’s right—that buzzing, easy-to-squish mosquito is the deadliest creature, period.

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(Photo by James D. Gathany / WikiMedia)

Chimps are naturally violent, not because of human contact

Posted on September 20, 2014

Recent news published by Nature website has been making headlines around the web, looking at the reason behind chimpanzee violence against each other. Some theories previously claimed the “chimp murders” were a product of human interaction; that is, the chimps learned violent tendencies from us. The latest study, however, disproves this theory. Nature website showed that the “murders” are better explained via natural causes such as competitiveness and adaptation.

Jane Goodall’s studies have previously shown that, for the most part, chimps were ” generally peaceful, playful, sophisticated and easygoing” as The New York Times wrote back in 1988. Despite that, further research showed that the males do occasionally engage in active killing of others. An anthropology professor at Indiana University Kevin D. Hunt further concluded that the persistent thread of violence was part of the reason for the social bonding, as chimps would have to “hang together to protect against extra-group murderers.”

If the chimps are our evolutionary ancestors, what does this speak of the human nature as well? Could violence thus be an inherent trait of our (and many other) species? Studies have already pointed out that some aggression can be beneficial, promoting the survival of the most powerful individuals. After all, “survival of the fittest” is one of evolution’s guiding principles.

Sources

Nature
MPR News
New York Times

Cuteness alert: White lion cubs look more like little puppies than big cats

Posted on July 13, 2013

These photos might cause a double-take. Look closely: These white balls of fur aren’t puppies, or lambs, they’re lion cubs. And they’re adorable. The rare white color is due to a recessive gene. Seven of the cubs were born in captivity to three South African mama lions since last month. The baby white lions are being introduced by the zookeepers at Himeji Central Park in Japan later this week.

There are only about 300 white lions left around the globe, according to the Daily Mail. The white lion—classified the same as its tan-colored counterpart—comes only from the Greater Timbavati region of South Africa, where they are considered a sacred species, according to the Global White Lion Protection Trust.

Nine-day-old lioness cubs are held by zoo keepers at Himeji Central Park on July 9, 2013 in Himeji, Japan. The seven white lioness cubs, given birth by three female South African Lions were born on June 6th, 26th and 30th. The cubs will be on public display for the first time later this week. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo News By Claudine Zap. No trademark infringement is intended