Offbeat2 mating kookaburra birds are at fault for a power outage in Australia

In February 2017, an orange-colored alligator (pictured) was found near a pond in Hanahan, South Carolina, U.S. Later that same month, a second one was spotted in Calabash, North Carolina, U.S. Two sightings do not a species make, particularly since the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources believes the alligators’ unusual coloring is more likely a result of rust in the water than evolution.

Ever wondered why cities have so many pigeons?

The birds have called cities home for thousands of years. But the reason may surprise you.

The birds raise a wild chorus of crazy laughter just as down breaks, that is why in the hinterlands of Australia they The deaths have given rise to speculation about whether there’s a powerful whirlpool current in the swimming hole and prompted local authorities to push for greater restrictions to the site.

Interviewer: In fact, you got so interested that you actually started to look for an answer to the pollution problem! Simon: I learned as much as I could about the chemistry behind the pollution. I can’t really explain all the detail, but basically if you add something called limestone to the river, it can improve

That said, there might already be orange colored-crocodiles in the world. Scientists researching the Abanda cave system in Gabon, Africa, believe a section of the African dwarf crocodile population has evolved to live inside the caves – they feed on bats and are turning orange!

Our planet is home to an awe-inspiring variety of plant and animal life. Check out some of weirdest-looking creatures in the world.

Named for the comically large fins (shaped like ears) on its head, the 15 known species of dumbo octopuses are deep-sea creatures that live at depths of at least 13,000 ft (3,962 m). These are the deepest living of all known octopuses and are found across most of the world’s tropical and temperate latitudes.

Native to Madagascar, the aye-aye is related to apes, chimpanzees and (no, really) humans. Nocturnal by nature, it spends most of its life up in the trees of the island’s rain forests and eats insects and fruits. The animal is endangered in the wild and faces several threats to its existence, including habitat destruction, and is sometimes killed on sight by locals because they believe the aye-aye’s presence is a sign of bad luck.

Instagram back online after suffering worldwide outage

Users trying to load content on the Facebook-owned photo sharing platform were met with error messages on Friday morning.

A dead Australian native bird is seen on ashes on the ground near Eden, Australia January 7, 2020. Photo by: REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy. Until the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season, the forests in Australia were thought to reabsorb all the carbon released in bushfires across the country.

A kookaburra in Australia is being sent for personal training after she became too fat to fly – because of her fondness for eating sausages. The chubby bird weighs 565 grams (1. 2 pounds), which is almost 40 percent heavier than a normal adult kookaburra , making her so unfit she can no longer fly.

The blobfish is a deep-sea fish found primarily off the coasts of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, where its gelatinous flesh helps it to remain buoyant. Its grumpy-looking and rather unlovely face is not how the fish looks – its natural habitat is at depths of 2,000 to 3,000 ft (600 to 1,200 m), meaning the specimens we see out of water have suffered decompression damage.

The loris family consists of eight species of primates found in the tropical woodlands of South and Southeast Asia. A solitary and nocturnal forager, a loris is usually identified by the large eyes surrounded by dark patches of fur. The conservation status of all known species of lorises range from Threatened to Endangered. Significant threats to wild populations include habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade; they are hunted for meat and use in traditional medicines.

A nocturnal rodent found in the deserts of China and Mongolia, the long-eared jerboa is regarded as the only living member of its genus – Euchoreutes. There are, fortunately, no major threats facing the long-eared jerboa and it is not considered Endangered. Its diet consists exclusively of insects.

France's 'wolf brigade': Alps guards with licence to kill

As the sun sets over the southern French Alps on a cool evening in early June, a flock of sheep huddle in an enclosure at an altitude of 1,500 metres. 

The echidna is one of only two types of mammals that lays eggs – the other is the platypus. Found in the mountains of the island of New Guinea, there are three known species, of which the long-beaked echidna is one. Nocturnal and solitary, echidnas have spines on their back and on their tongue (which they use to catch worms and other prey). The major threats facing their survival in the wild are hunting and habitat destruction; they are listed as critically endangered.

A crustacean that was only recently discovered in the South Pacific Ocean, the yeti crab or yeti lobster measures six inches (15 cm) in length and seems to be covered a mass of blond hair. It is a deep-sea creature – first found at a depth of 7,200 ft (2,200 m) – of which little is known.

The term – tarsier – refers to six known members of a family of jumping monkeys found on the islands of Southeast Asia. The largest of these monkeys is only six inches (16 cm) long; the tail is twice that length. Tarsiers are nocturnal animals with eyes that measure over half an inch (16 mm) in diameter. Their brains have a correspondingly large visual cortex. Tarsiers are also unusual because they can rotate their heads 180 degrees. The conservation statuses of the known species range from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered (the Siau Island Tarsier).

Man tries to smuggle 34 birds into U.S. in carry-on luggage

U.S. Attorney's office said Francis Gurahoo, 39, was traveling into the United States from Guyana on Sunday. Airport employees discovered 34 live finches in his carry-on bags. Each bird was hidden inside a plastic hair curler. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, finches are used in singing contests in Brooklyn and Queens, and individuals bet on the birds with the best voice. Gurahoo allegedly said he planned to sell the finches for about $3,000 each for a total of about $100,000.

Also known as the “Mexican walking fish,” the axolotl is a unique species of salamander – it exhibits a trait called neoteny. Simply put, its appearance remains as it was in its larval stage and the axolotl never looks like an adult salamander. Equally bizarrely, it is also one of the few animals in the world that can regrow parts of itself – it regenerates tissue at the wound site. The axolotl was historically found in lakes surrounding Mexico City, Mexico, but is now listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN.

A large - can weigh as much as 100 lbs. (45 kg) – Hungarian sheepdog believed to have descended from Tibetan ancestors, the Komondor puppy is born with a softer coat than the adults (it becomes harder as the dog matures). The color and appearance of the coat protects the dog from extremes of temperatures.

Possibly one of the oddest-looking fish to have been discovered, the leafy sea dragon is covered with leaf-like growth all over and often nearly invisible to the naked eye when in its natural habitat – masses of seaweed. These creatures are native to the waters off south and east Australia and feed on small crustaceans like sea lice. The exact number in the wild is unknown, but they are listed as Near Threatened.

The shoebill is another of our planet’s more remarkable creatures. Mentioned by ancient Egyptian and Arab civilizations, its distinguishing feature is probably its large, razor-sharp beak. Also called the whale-headed stork, the shoebill is a wading bird that preys on fish, turtles and young crocodiles. An adult can stand nearly four feet (1.2 meters) tall. Shoebills are listed as Vulnerable because of habitat destruction and hunting and capture for the bird trade.

Koalas' 'functionally extinct' status challenged by people power determined not to give up

Concerns that koalas could be extinct in New South Wales by 2050 prompts grassroots action by people to protect the iconic species.

Meet the pygmy marmoset – the smallest monkey in the world! A fully-grown adult weighs between three and five ounces (85 and 140 grams) and can grow to nine inches (23 cm) including the tail. Native to South America’s Amazon Basin, this tiny monkey has a diet of tree gum, although it will also eat nectar, fruit and insects.

The viperfish is a deep-sea predator with a terrifying appearance. It is a surprisingly small fish – growing to a maximum of 24 inches (60 cm) – and is found at depths of 5,000 ft (1,520 m). Viperfish have a frightening array of sharp teeth that cannot fit into their lower jaws. As a result, the teeth protrude outside and curve back over the mouth, giving the fish its distinctive look. In the wild, they usually live up to 40 years but can only survive for a few hours once removed from the pressure of the deep sea.

A critically endangered antelope that was once found across Eurasian steppes and semi-deserts, today the saiga is only found in in Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The animal is remarkable because its unusual nose filters dust from the air and keeps it cool during the summer. In winters though, the nose warms up the cold air before it reaches the lungs.

Also called frilled lizard, frilled dragon or frilled agama, the frilled neck lizard is found mainly in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. The lizard, which lives in dry woodland areas and can grow to lengths of 35 inches (90 cm), is remarkable for two reasons. One is the orange or reddish-brown color of the frill around its neck, which it deploys when threatened. The other reason is the fact it can run on its hind legs at speeds of 12.5 miles per hour (20 km/h)!

Cigarette, electrical fault 'may have caused' Notre-Dame fire

A poorly stubbed-out cigarette or an electrical fault could have started the devastating fire that ripped through Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral in April, French prosecutors said Wednesday, while ruling out any criminal intent. The statement by prosecutors, which also said an investigation was being opened into possible negligence, was the first official evaluation of the causes of the April 15 fire at the world heritage landmark that shocked France and the world.

Native to the jungles and mangrove forests of the island of Borneo, this endangered Old World monkey is one of the largest in Asia. Fully grown adult males can reach 28 inches (72 cm) in length and weigh 44 lbs. (20 kg). The male uses its comically large nose to attract females. Unlike most other monkeys, the proboscis is quite comfortable walking on its hind legs; in fact, it can walk upright in standing water.

Native to the island of Hispaniola (the second largest island in the West Indies archipelago), the agouta is one of a handful of mammalian species capable of producing toxins in its saliva. Also called Hispaniolan solenodon, the agouta is a secretive and nocturnal animal, preying on small amphibians, reptiles and birds. The animal is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, and faces extreme threats from introduced predators like dogs and cats, brought to the island by colonizing Europeans.

Found in warm temperate waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, the guineafowl puffer can reach lengths of 20 inches (50 cm) and, like other members of the puffer family, can inflate its body when threatened. Armed with powerful teeth that help it a variety of coral and reef organisms, the guineafowl puffer also retains a quantity of toxins within its body, meaning it is not usually eaten as prey – either by humans or other sea creatures. As a result, the wild population is relatively stable.

A thousand-year old Hungarian dog breed, the puli is a sheepdog with an almost comically long and dense coat, the curls of which resemble dreadlocks. A fully-grown puli stands 17 inches (43 cm) tall and weighs 30 lbs. (13.5 kg). Pulis are used in combination with Komondor (a larger but similarly hairy sheepdog) to guard livestock against wolves.

Also called striated frogfish, this spine-covered denizen of the deep is found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, between depths of 98 and 656 feet (30 to 200 m). The distinguishing feature of the frogfish is the profusion of hair-like (worm-like) appendages all over its body – these act both as means of camouflage and attracting prey (smaller fish).

A unique reptile, the gharial is native to the Indian subcontinent and easily identifiable by its long thin snout. A member of the crocodile family, gharials feed exclusively on fish and were once found in river systems from Pakistan to Myanmar. Today, gharials (listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered) are found only in four river systems across India and Nepal.

The hagfish family is some 80 species strong, and most, if not all, of these slime-producing, eel-like fishes have been around for approximately 500 million years. Hagfishes live in deep sea ecosystems – the Atlantic hagfish can go as deep as 5,600 ft (1,800 m) - where their ability to produce large volumes of smelly slime keep them safe from the few predators around.

A large freshwater turtle native to the Mary River region in Queensland, Australia, this turtle is unique because it breathes through its genitals! Specifically, it breathes underwater with the help of specialized glands in the reproductive organs; this allows them to stay submerged for two to three days at a time. The IUCN lists the turtle's conservation status as Endangered.

Glass frogs are a group of tree frogs found in tropical lowland forests. Some members of this species have translucent chests and bellies that make internal organs like the heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract visible through the skin. This unique feature allows them to camouflage themselves from potential predators.

According to TRAFFIC, the global wildlife trade monitoring network, pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world; over a million were poached in the last decade. The world’s only scale-covered mammal, four of the eight known species are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Pangolins use their scales to curl up into a ball of armor when threatened.

There are 20 known species of armadillos, all of which live in temperate and warm habitats like grasslands, semi-deserts and even rainforests. The species is named for the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs and tail – the only mammals to wear such shells. Armadillos differ in size and even color – from the pink fairy armadillo (six inches (15 cm) in length) to the dark-brown giant armadillo (five feet (1.5 m) in length).

The naked mole-rat may not be among the prettiest animal in the world, but its remarkable physical and biological traits certainly rate it among the most unusual. Found across Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, they live in underground burrows with limited oxygen supply and are resistant to cancer. Individual animals can live for over three decades each, making them the longest-living rodent.

At first glance, the gerenuk is a weird cross between a gazelle and a giraffe; in fact, in the Somali language its name translates as “giraffe-necked.” Found exclusively across East Africa, the animal has a small head but large eyes and ears. Gerenuks are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN and, among its more incredible features, these creatures rarely need free water.

The term – flying lemur – refers to one of two species of mammals found mainly in Southeast Asia and on some of the Philippine islands. These lemurs can’t fly – they are arboreal creatures that live on the top of trees and can glide from one tree-top to another. Their muscled limbs and the webbing between them help the flying lemur glide up to 230 ft (70 m).

An unusual animal, the okapi looks like a zebra, but it is a relative of (the only living one, actually) the giraffe. A shy animal, there are fewer than 30,000 left in the wild, where they are under threat from habitat destruction, terrorism and hunting for meat and skins. They have also been found to communicate in a secret language - a set of low frequency whistles not audible to the human ear.

Found in South American tropical river systems like the Amazon, this freshwater turtle lives on the bottom of slow-moving muddy rivers and swamps. It feeds on fish but will also eat small birds and mammals. The curiously shaped snout allows the Mata Mata turtle to stay submerged for long periods of time – viewed from above, the shell looks like a piece of bark and the head like fallen leaves.

A unique and wonderful creature, the narwhal is found in coastal waters and rivers of Arctic regions and is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Males are distinguished by an ivory tusk tooth that protrudes through the upper lip and can grow to nearly nine feet (2.8 m) in length; the appearance leads to the narwhal often being called the “unicorn of the seas.”