Animals

April 22, 2026

Brazil’s World-Famous Blue-And-Yellow Macaws Return to Rio After a 200-Year Absence

The blue-and-yellow macaw may not be Brazil’s national bird, but it’s nothing short of a national symbol to the South American nation. Its colors even evoke a sense of the Brazilian flag, and the birds are seen in everything, from t-shirts to murals. But for 200 years, they were gone from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s cultural capital and top tourist destination. Now, a “refaunation” effort has finally brought them back.

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April 15, 2026

Landmine-Sniffing Rat Who Saved Countless Lives in Cambodia Is Honored With a Statue

Dogs are not the only animals with jobs meant to keep us safe. In Cambodia and other countries affected by landmines, rats are trained to sniff out these explosives, allowing the authorities to remove them without harm. Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, was one such heroic rodent, as he detected 100 landmines over the course of his life. Now, Cambodia has honored him with the world’s first statue dedicated to a landmine-detecting rat.

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April 2, 2026

Top 10 Favorite Bird Videos From the Latest Audubon Photography Awards

It’s one thing to see a photo of a bird, frozen in time. It’s another to see the creature moving within its own habitat. Through video, we can witness how exactly they flap their wings, move their heads, and interact with the world around them. The Audubon Photography Awards gives us a peek into birds across the United States, Canada, and, in the contest’s 16th year, Chile and Colombia.

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March 25, 2026

Corgi Leads a Pack of 7 Dogs on a 10-Mile Journey To Make It Back Home

One canine quest sounds like something from a movie. A group of seven dogs in China went missing but miraculously found their way home, traveling more than 17 kilometers (about 10 miles) to reunite with their humans. The leader of this pack—which featured a golden retriever, labrador, German shepherd, and Pekinese—was a commanding corgi identified as Dapang, or “big fatty.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.