Buzz
When animals dominate the news, it's usually either a heartwarming story or something linked to PETA. Many of us have witnessed heroic moments, like first responders risking their lives to save a kitten or a beloved dog from a fire or trapped in a storm drain. And of course, we've seen the footage of people rushing to help stranded sea creatures, pouring water over them in a desperate attempt to keep them alive until rescue arrives.
However, in the stories that follow, these animals made the news for a range of other, often unusual reasons.
10. Elephants Never Forget
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
In June 2022, reports surfaced about a 70-year-old woman named Maya Murmu who was attacked and trampled by a wild elephant while fetching water in the Mayurbhanj district of eastern India. The elephant had wandered far from the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and encountered Murmu as she went about her task.
Though elephant attacks are not unheard of, what followed after the woman’s death was truly remarkable. As Murmu’s family gathered to honor her during the funeral service, the elephant returned. Upon seeing her body on the pyre, it charged forward, trampling the corpse. Afterward, the elephant tossed the body aside before storming off.
While it’s still unclear what, if anything, provoked the animal, some theories suggest that Murmu may have aided poachers in killing the elephant’s calf in front of the animal. However, this claim remains unverified.
9. Something Stuck in Your Throat?
Fishing is a widely enjoyed pastime. And apparently, in England, kissing your catch is quite a popular ritual.
In 2017, a 28-year-old man from Bournemouth went fishing and caught a Dover sole. As he bent down to kiss the fish, it unexpectedly leaped from his hands and straight into his mouth. Unfortunately, the fish lodged itself in his windpipe, cutting off his breathing. By the time paramedics arrived, the man had gone into full cardiac arrest. The paramedics quickly used forceps to remove the 5.5-inch (14-centimeter) fish from his throat.
Fortunately, he made a full recovery, though there was no information provided about the condition of the fish.
In May 2022, a man in Thailand was spearfishing in Phatthalung province when he surfaced for air, only for a fish to leap into his open mouth at the same moment. The spike freshwater fish, known as an Anabas, wriggled its way down his windpipe, blocking his airway. The man was swiftly rushed to the hospital after onlookers saw he was in distress. Doctors successfully removed the fish, which appeared to be trying to escape through his nasal cavity.
This fisherman, too, made a full recovery, but the fish wasn’t so lucky.
8. Anything for 15 Minutes of Fame
In March 2022, moviegoers at the Moviehouse & Eatery by Cinépolis in Austin were settling in, eager to watch the feature film while enjoying their large tubs of popcorn.
However, one moviegoer decided he wanted his own fifteen minutes of fame and chose to release a live bat into the theater. Pandemonium ensued, animal control was called, and refunds were offered. Despite the disruption, most attendees decided to stay and finish the movie. Cinépolis' marketing director promised increased security measures, including bag checks before entry.
At least the animal was somewhat fitting for the occasion—the audience was there to see The Batman, after all.
7. It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a … Deer?
A deer in India wasn't going to let something as trivial as a dirt road stop it. And it definitely wasn’t about to get its hooves dirty either. In an astonishing display of agility, the deer leapt over the road and seemed to hover in the air at an incredible height before landing safely on the other side, leaving onlookers in awe.
And this deer isn't the only animal that might make it to the Olympics. In 2020, a javelina was caught on video attempting to outrun an unseen competitor down a street in Tucson, Arizona. It's a moment that truly needs to be seen to be fully appreciated.
6. Cows Just Wanna Have Fun
Cows are typically calm creatures, but sometimes they just want to break free and have a bit of fun, especially when they're destined for the slaughterhouse. In November 2021, a cow escaped from a cattle ranch located 500 miles west of Rio de Janeiro and made a beeline for a… water park.
Upon arriving at the resort, the cow made its way to the edge of a poolside waterslide, then slid down into the pool below. Astonishingly, the slide, designed to hold a maximum of 450 pounds (204 kilograms), didn’t budge under the 700-pound (317-kilogram) cow’s weight. When the cow’s owner learned of the escape and the waterslide adventure, he decided against sending the cow to the slaughterhouse and chose to adopt it as a family pet instead.
5. Surprise!
In July 2021, Atlanta resident Kristine Frank was settling back under the blankets when her husband got up early to let the dog outside. But just as she was about to drift back to sleep, she felt something moving beside her in bed. When she peeked over the blankets, she was shocked to see a massive cat lying next to her. She screamed for her husband, who rushed back and managed to chase the cat out of the house.
Speaking to a local news outlet about the bizarre encounter, Frank confirmed that she’d never seen a cat quite like this one. The cat was over 2 feet (0.6 meters) long, with spots and pointy ears. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources soon identified it as a serval, a wild cat native to Africa. At the time, it was speculated that the cat might have been kept as an illegal pet and managed to escape. Poor kitty, it just wanted to cuddle.
4. Jonah, Is That You?
The biblical story of Jonah and the whale has sparked debate for centuries. Some staunchly believe the tale is literal, while others argue that it should be understood metaphorically.
In 2021, fisherman Michael Packard experienced firsthand what it might feel like to be swallowed by a whale while diving for lobster off the coast of Cape Cod. He recounted diving towards the ocean floor when something like a freight train collided with him, and then everything went dark.
Packard further explained that it took him five seconds to realize that he was inside the whale’s mouth. He attempted to maneuver himself to escape, but the massive creature’s jaws were pinning his legs. The whale then became more agitated, thrashing about before finally ‘spitting’ Packard out.
Against all odds, the only injury Packard sustained was ligament damage to his legs. Now, when he says, 'Boy, do I have a whale of a story to tell you…,' it’s a story he can truly claim as his own.
3. Squirrel Goes Nuts
Christmas 2021 turned out to be a chaotic time for one particular critter in Buckley, Wales. A grey squirrel went on a rampage, attacking multiple residents, including children and the elderly. The squirrel even started targeting pets, going after both cats and dogs.
The squirrel, known as Stripe, was ultimately euthanized in accordance with laws regarding the release of grey squirrels into the wild.
2. A Man’s Best Friend
In May 2021, Mike McCoy was taking his 8-month-old Labrador, Jake, for a walk by a pond in Florida. When Jake wandered into a bush, an alligator suddenly emerged from the water and attacked him. Hearing his puppy’s cries, McCoy jumped into the water as soon as he saw Jake trapped in the alligator’s jaws.
McCoy fought back by pressing his thumbs into the alligator’s eyes and attempted to lift the predator out of the water, hoping to force it to release Jake. During the scuffle, the alligator bit McCoy’s hands, but it eventually released Jake, and both of them were able to get away. While Jake had a few bite wounds, they were treatable by the local vet. McCoy needed stitches in his left hand but was otherwise unharmed. Florida wildlife officials initiated the removal process for the alligator from the pond.
1. Always Check the Bowl
Many people make a habit of checking the bowl before using the toilet. If you aren’t one of them, this story may just make you reconsider.
In 2021, a 65-year-old man from Graz, Austria, sat down on the toilet and immediately felt an unusual sensation in his genitals. He quickly jumped up and was startled to find a 5-foot-long (1.5-meter) albino python staring back at him from the bowl.
It was later revealed that the python belonged to the man’s neighbor, a reptile enthusiast who kept 11 snakes and a gecko inside his apartment. Authorities were uncertain how the snake escaped but speculated that it likely slithered through the building’s sewer system before finding its way into the toilet.
Pythons are non-venomous, so while the snake did bite the victim in a sensitive area, the injuries were minor. The bite was certainly painful, though.
