Buzz
Every day, scientists uncover new and fascinating animal behaviors. Some of the most astonishing moments involve familiar species, as it’s unexpected to see creatures like bears and badgers engage in extraordinary actions.
There’s no better time to observe these seldom-captured moments. With trail cameras, amateur photographers, and research teams constantly documenting wildlife, the chances of capturing incredible animal surprises have never been higher.
From a grizzly bear sprinting alongside wolves to a tortoise displaying predatory behavior, here are ten astonishing animal actions that will leave you amazed!
10. Eagles Snatch a Drone Mid-Flight
Since their inception, drones have become ubiquitous worldwide, operating in various roles such as surveillance, security, rescue missions, scientific research, and wildlife conservation. While many enthusiasts use them to capture breathtaking aerial views, in 2015, a drone found itself on the receiving end of wildlife interaction.
Patrick Pircher, hoping for a routine flight and spectacular footage, launched his DJI Phantom 3 drone over Austria’s picturesque snow-covered peaks. However, the flight took an unforeseen twist.
A duo of eagles started circling the drone and eventually launched an attack, hitting it with such force that the device spiraled out of control. The video captures one eagle clutching the drone in its talons, eventually landing to inspect the strange object. After determining it wasn’t edible, the eagles left their unusual prize behind.
The footage doesn’t specify the eagle species responsible for the drone’s capture, but the golden eagle, a large bird native to Austria, is a likely candidate.
9. A Fox’s Bold Robbery
In 2023, Esmeralda Egurrola from Tucson, Arizona, discovered that three of her motion-activated cameras had gone offline. Upon investigation, she found the devices were missing. Curious about the thief’s identity, she accessed an app on her phone to review the last recordings from each camera—and uncovered the culprit in action.
The thief was undeniably charming. A gray fox, equipped with a bushy tail and alert ears, brazenly executed the theft. The evidence was clear: footage showed the fox holding one of the missing cameras in its mouth, strongly suggesting it returned to swipe the other two as well.
The fox’s motivation for stealing something neither edible nor useful for its survival remains a mystery. However, one thing is undeniable: the fox demonstrated impressive thievery skills, and the cameras are still missing to this day.
8. An Elephant Skillfully Peeling a Banana
At first glance, an elephant peeling a banana might seem mundane. Yet, it’s a remarkable achievement, especially since elephants lack hands or fingers. What makes it even more astonishing is that one elephant learned this skill by observing humans peel bananas.
Meet Pang Pha, an Asian elephant residing at the Berlin Zoo. Without the advantage of thumbs, she employs a distinctive method to peel bananas. She starts by gripping the stem with her trunk and tearing it off. Next, she drops the banana to the ground and uses her trunk to delicately remove the peel, revealing the fruit inside.
Interestingly, Pang Pha skips peeling green bananas, opting to eat them whole instead. However, she takes her time with ripe bananas, meticulously peeling them before consumption. The video capturing her banana-peeling prowess is the first-ever recording of an elephant performing this task in such a manner.
7. Whales Using Bubbles as Weapons
Humpback whales are celebrated for their bumpy snouts, elegant movements, and enchanting songs. Yet, these magnificent creatures possess another remarkable trait—they craft bubble nets to trap their prey.
While scientists have long been aware of this hunting strategy, it wasn’t until 2019 that the behavior was captured on film. The study focused on a group of humpback whales near southeastern Alaska. Researchers attached cameras to the whales using suction cups and deployed drones to observe the pod from above.
The footage was both visually stunning and scientifically enlightening. When the whales spotted schools of fish or crustaceans, they began swimming in circles around them. As they moved, they released streams of bubbles, forming a cylindrical net to encase their prey. Once the small creatures were confined, a whale would surge through the bubble net, scooping up a hearty meal.
6. Orcas Supporting a Dying Companion
In 2023, a groundbreaking video was captured by whale watchers. While drifting near the waters north of Loppa, a Norwegian island, they observed an orca pod and noticed one member was in distress.
The heartbreaking scene featured Hunchy, a 35-year-old male orca who appeared severely weakened and unable to swim. He wasn’t alone; two younger orcas stayed close, desperately trying to keep him afloat so he could breathe. After nearly an hour of effort, the pair seemed to relent, and Hunchy eventually sank into the ocean’s depths.
While orcas mourning the loss of a calf have been documented before, this was the first recorded instance of an adult orca’s death and the emotional response it elicited from its pod members.
5. A Badger’s Bovine Heist
In 2016, researchers in Utah went to extraordinary efforts to transport cow carcasses into the desert. Their aim was to study the winter habits of predators and scavengers in the Great Basin region.
To their surprise, one of the cow carcasses disappeared within the first week. Evan Buechley, one of the scientists, investigated and noticed disturbed soil where the carcass had been secured. To uncover the mystery, Buechley reviewed footage from a nearby camera trap, which captured unprecedented badger behavior.
While American badgers are known for caching small prey, such as rodents, one ambitious badger decided an entire cow was worth the effort. Working tirelessly, it buried the massive carcass on the spot.
The footage reveals the cow gradually disappearing into the ground as the badger dug and tugged without pause. In a humorous moment, one image shows the exhausted but triumphant badger perched atop its buried treasure, casting a mischievous look at the camera.
4. Grizzly Bears Preying on Horses
The Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS), a volunteer organization dedicated to safeguarding wild horses in Alberta, Canada, uses trail cameras to monitor the herds. Through this effort, they uncovered a startling truth—grizzly bears are hunting Alberta’s wild horses.
In 2023, HAWS shared footage of horses sprinting past a trail camera, closely pursued by a grizzly bear. With speeds reaching 25 to 28 mph (40 to 45 kph) and the ability to sustain this pace for up to 2 miles (3 km), grizzlies are formidable predators capable of taking down horses. Fortunately, all the horses in this instance survived, indicating the bear’s hunt was unsuccessful.
This wasn’t a one-time event. A year earlier, another HAWS camera captured a similar scenario. The video shows horses and foals bolting toward the camera in a state of panic, with a swift grizzly bear in close pursuit.
3. A Predatory Tortoise
In 2021, Anna Zora, the deputy conservation and sustainability manager of the Frégate Island Foundation, was on Frégate Island in the Seychelles. She began filming an Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) as it slowly approached, unaware that its seemingly calm movement was part of a hunting strategy.
At one point, Zora noticed a flightless lesser noddy tern chick (Anous tenuirostris) perched on a log. To her astonishment, she witnessed the tortoise’s slow but deliberate pursuit of the bird. Over seven minutes, the tortoise caught, killed, and consumed the chick, capturing the entire event on camera.
This shocking footage, the first to document a tortoise intentionally hunting and eating another animal, has left scientists and researchers stunned. Such behavior is highly unusual for A. gigantea, a species primarily known for its herbivorous diet.
2. A Tiger Family That Hunts Crocodiles
If a tiger and a crocodile were to face off, which predator would win? Many might assume the crocodile, but a tiger family in India’s Ranthambore National Park has gained notoriety for preying on these formidable reptiles.
The story began with a female tiger named Machli, who became famous after park visitors observed her intense battle with a 14-foot-long (4.3 m) crocodile. Ultimately, Machli emerged victorious, securing a substantial meal and earning the title of the park’s premier crocodile hunter.
Machli passed away in 2016 at the age of 19. However, her legacy lives on through her granddaughter, Riddhi, a tigress who is teaching her own cubs the art of crocodile hunting. In 2024, Riddhi and her three cubs were captured on camera devouring a large crocodile they had successfully ambushed and killed.
This exceptionally rare footage is captivating to watch. It’s not every day that a land mammal is seen overpowering and consuming a formidable prehistoric predator like a crocodile.
1. A Grizzly Bear and Wolves Cooperating in a Hunt
In 2022, a herd of elk in Yellowstone National Park was under observation by park staff, a wolf pack, and a bear. As the team recorded, an extraordinary interaction between these predators began to unfold.
The grizzly bear collaborated with the wolves, who seemed to welcome its help during the hunt. However, once the wolves successfully took down a female elk, the alliance dissolved instantly. The grizzly betrayed its wolf allies, making off with the carcass in a swift move.
While bears often use their strength and size to rob wolves of their kills, it’s exceptionally rare for the two species to hunt cooperatively. According to the National Park Service, their interactions typically involve bears attempting to steal prey hunted by wolves, with little to no direct collaboration.
