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As kids, many of us buried a beloved pet in the garden, sometimes marking the spot with a small cross made from popsicle sticks. But not every pet was honored with such humble, yet heartfelt, tributes.
Some memorials created to ensure an animal or group of animals is remembered forever are so massive or downright strange that they demand attention. Here are 10 significant sites dedicated to animal remembrance.
10. Monument To Laboratory Mice
Science has advanced due to the contributions of some unexpected figures. However, human researchers shouldn’t become too arrogant. Countless sacrifices in the name of scientific progress have been made by rodents.
Lab mice and rats have played a crucial role in major breakthroughs in medicine, genetics, and various other disciplines. At one research facility in Russia, it was decided that the contribution of these rodents should be commemorated with a memorial.
At the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, you’ll find a small bronze statue of a mouse. This cheerful figure is shown knitting the double helix of DNA, a tribute to the vital role lab rodents have played in unraveling its secrets.
The sculptor explained that the statue “blends the image of a laboratory mouse with that of a scientist, as both are interconnected and work towards a shared purpose.” The artist hoped to capture the moment of discovery through the mouse’s joyful expression.
9. The Cheese Mite
Cheese is often described as milk’s journey toward immortality. While it tends to outlast the milk it’s made from, cheese is not impervious to harm. Bacteria, fungi, and even maggots love to feast on it. And so does the cheese mite.
Cheese mites are closely related to the mites found on human skin. They enjoy feeding on protein and fat-rich substances, whether it’s dead human skin or a rich cheese. Their tendency to leave waste behind and create holes that allow fungi and bacteria to enter means that a cheese mite colony is generally seen as undesirable—though not always.
Some cheeses are believed to actually benefit from a mite infestation. One such cheese, originating in Germany, is known as Milbenkase (“Mite Cheese”). The cheese makers in Wurchwitz intentionally add mites to their product to aid in the aging process.
Up to a year after the mites have feasted on the now-darkened cheese, it is consumed by people—along with the mites still inhabiting it. To honor these tiny creatures for their contribution to this unique delicacy, the cheese makers have erected a statue in tribute to the humble cheese mite.
8. The Hi Jolly Camel Corps
In Arizona, a monument stands in honor of a man named Hi Jolly and the camels that brought him fame. Hi Jolly, also known as Hajj Ali after his arrival in America, was hired by the US Army to introduce camels to the United States. The belief was that camels would make ideal pack animals in the desert regions of the South. In 1856-57, 77 camels were brought to the US for this experiment.
The experiment turned out to be somewhat of a failure. Horses and mules, the primary pack animals of the army, were terrified of the camels. However, the camels proved adept at crossing the desert regions of the Southwest, thriving on the sparse scrub vegetation.
With the start of the Civil War, the camel corps was disbanded. Many of the camels were released into the wild and formed feral herds. None of them remain today. The only legacy of this odd experiment is a pyramid, crowned with a camel statue, marking the final camp of Hi Jolly.
7. The Sacrificial Donkey
In 2017, shareholders of a Chinese zoo felt they weren’t getting enough return on their investment. They entered the zoo with the intention of capturing some of the animals and selling them to anyone who would buy them.
For reasons unknown, they selected a donkey and a goat as the animals they hoped to sell. When security attempted to intervene, the shareholders pushed the donkey into a tiger enclosure.
A video, which quickly went viral, showed the donkey being mauled and killed by the tigers. The shareholders commented that at least they wouldn't have to spend money on food for the tigers anymore. Fortunately, the goat was rescued by other zoo visitors before it met the same fate.
A statue of the donkey was erected just a month after the incident. An inscription on the monument commemorates the donkey’s life: “I was born on a farm in the countryside. I should have grown up, had children, and enjoyed life on Earth. This monument calls for justice. I died needlessly and should be remembered.”
6. The Monkey Massacre Memorial
In Johns Creek, Georgia, a memorial stands in remembrance of a dark chapter in the city’s history. According to local legend, a train crash occurred in the early 20th century, carrying circus animals. A troop of monkeys escaped and ran into the nearby woods. Local farmers, unsure of what these creatures were, began shooting, leading to the tragic Monkey Massacre.
Though the truth of this event remains uncertain, there are still some monkeys in the area today. In the 1990s, a local artist donated a collection of stone monkey statues to the city to mark the site of this horrific incident. City leaders hope the memorial serves as a reminder that killing an unknown creature is not the only solution.
5. Brooklyn Bridge Elephant Stampede Memorial
In New York, you might come across a timeworn bronze statue dedicated to the so-called Brooklyn Bridge Elephant Stampede. In 1929, spectators gathered to watch a group of circus elephants, including the well-known Jumbo, march across the bridge.
When the elephants grew frightened, they charged through the crowds, trampling those along the way. Many lives were supposedly lost—at least, that’s the story behind the monument. In reality, no such stampede ever occurred.
The artist behind this statue is no stranger to memorializing fictional events. Just a year earlier, Joseph Reginella had created another animal monument to mark the supposed attack of a giant octopus on a Staten Island ferry, dragging it underwater. His purpose was to test the limits of people's gullibility. To his credit, fake news is hard to ignore once it's cast in bronze.
4. Boll Weevil Monument
Enterprise, Alabama proudly calls itself the “City of Progress.” Over the years, the city has weathered many challenges, with the arrival of the boll weevil proving to be one of the most devastating.
The boll weevil, an insect that feasts on the buds and flowers of cotton plants, made its way into the Southern United States around the early 1900s, wreaking havoc on the cotton industry. Crops withered, and many were left on the brink of financial collapse as entire communities faced bankruptcy. Yet, it is this very destructive pest to which Enterprise has dedicated a monument.
In response to the crisis, farmers were forced to diversify their crops, and peanuts emerged as the ideal replacement. Soon, Enterprise thrived as one of the country's leading peanut producers. To commemorate the insect that led them to this new, prosperous industry, a statue was erected depicting a woman holding a boll weevil—the “herald of prosperity”—in her hands.
3. Seagull Monument
Utah’s state bird is the seagull, an unexpected choice when compared to the grandeur or elegance of other state birds. However, the seagull holds a special place in Utah’s history due to its crucial role in the state's founding. Many members of the Mormon faith recount the tale of the “Miracle of the Gulls,” an event from 1848.
When Mormon pioneers first arrived in Salt Lake Valley at the end of the planting season in 1847, they were only able to sow a minimal crop that kept them sustained into 1848. As a result, their second crop was essential for survival.
A horde of Mormon crickets, a species of katydid, swarmed the settlers’ fields and began devouring the crops that were critical to their survival. When seagulls appeared and began feasting on the insects, saving the settlers’ plants, the Mormon pioneers believed it to be a miraculous act of divine intervention. To honor this “miracle,” the Mormon Church erected a monument with two bronze seagulls perched on top in Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
2. Sacred Cod
The cod fishing industry played a crucial role in the economy of early Massachusetts. To commemorate this important chapter in the state's history, a 1.5-meter-long (5 ft) wooden cod hangs above the visitors' gallery in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
This revered fish, known as the Sacred Cod, faces the Speaker of the House during every session, reminding lawmakers of the critical role cod played in the state's development. The model has been suspended in the Massachusetts government’s meeting place for over two centuries.
In 1933, however, the Sacred Cod was stolen by the staff of The Harvard Lampoon. The pranksters sneaked into the House, removed the cod, and hid it in a florist’s box before simply walking out with it.
Police were dispatched to track down the missing Sacred Cod. With their beloved fish absent, lawmakers debated what charges to bring against the cod-nappers. After 50 hours of disruption, an anonymous tip led to the fish's recovery by the Harvard police. The Sacred Cod has remained in its place ever since.
1. Laika Monument
While other animals had been launched into space, Laika, a dog, became the first to orbit Earth. This monumental feat was especially remarkable for Laika, a stray dog found on the streets of Moscow.
Tragically, Laika never had the chance to appreciate the significance of her journey. There was no plan to bring her back from space, and her mission was always intended to end in her death. Laika survived aboard Sputnik 2 for about five hours before succumbing to the extreme heat.
It wasn't until 2008, five decades after Laika's historic flight, that a memorial was erected to honor her journey. Located outside a military research facility, the statue depicts Laika perched atop a rocket, which transforms into a hand gently cradling the dog.
Although this was the first monument dedicated solely to Laika, she had already been commemorated in various forms. The Soviet Union produced stamps, chocolates, and even cigarettes featuring her likeness.
