Buzz
These strange occurrences in the animal world might sound like myths, but they are real events that left scientists puzzled.
1. The Case of Exploding Toads in Germany
Toads usually puff up to intimidate predators, but they rarely burst. However, in April 2005, Hamburg, Germany witnessed an unusual event where thousands of toads exploded over several days, scattering their remains up to a meter away.
Dr. Franz Mutchsmann, a Berlin-based veterinarian, proposed a theory for the toads' sudden explosions: A group of crows had recently settled in parts of Hamburg and developed a preference for toad livers. The crows would dive down, pierce the toads with their beaks, and extract their livers before the toads could react. The toads would instinctively inflate to deter the crows, but the holes left in their skin caused internal pressure to force their organs outward, resulting in the toads bursting apart.
2. The Mystery of Globsters
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Around the world, massive blobs of unidentified flesh, referred to as "globsters," have washed ashore. These mysterious masses often resemble creatures unknown to science, weighing several tons and appearing on beaches globally over the past century.
What exactly are they? Initially, they are often thought to be giant squids or other rare (or mythical) sea creatures, but scientific analysis has revealed a less extraordinary explanation.
To date, every globster found has been conclusively identified (before it drifts back to sea or is disturbed) as the remains of a common animal, typically a whale. For instance, a globster discovered in Chile in 2003 was confirmed to be the skin of a sperm whale. When dead animals float in the ocean, remnants left by predators and natural decay can be swept ashore by strong tides, leaving behind unsettling discoveries.
3. The Tale of Mike the Headless Chicken
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In 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen beheaded one of his chickens to prepare a family meal. However, something unusual occurred: The chicken remained alive.
The headless chicken, later named Mike, continued to roam the farm, defying expectations of becoming dinner. The Olsens found they could sustain Mike by using an eyedropper to feed and hydrate him through his neck opening. Eventually, they showcased him as Mike the Headless Chicken, taking him on tour.
What kept Mike alive? Pure chance. Researchers at the University of Utah discovered that Olsen had narrowly missed severing Mike’s brain stem, enabling the chicken to remain mobile despite losing its head. Sadly, Mike met his end when his family misplaced the eyedropper and couldn’t assist him after he choked on a piece of corn.
4. Eyeless Fish Mysteriously Wash Ashore Twice on the Same Beach
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A few years ago, reports of mass animal deaths, particularly involving birds, dominated the news. Most cases had straightforward explanations (such as fireworks startling birds into colliding with trees and structures), but a few remained unresolved.
In early 2011, thousands of dead snapper, many missing their eyes, appeared overnight on New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula. Despite investigations by wildlife authorities, no definitive cause was ever determined, though initial reports suggested the incident might have been “intentional.”
Nearly two years later, the same phenomenon occurred again at the identical beach. Thousands of snapper appeared with unusual injuries on their bodies. Authorities this time attributed the event to a damaged net from an illegal fishing vessel, though they didn’t clarify if it was linked to the earlier incident.
5. The Legend of the Malawi Terror Beast
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In 2003, residents of Malawi’s Dowa district were terrified by a creature known as the “Terror Beast,” an unidentified animal that killed three people and injured sixteen others. The beast brutally attacked its victims, severing limbs and mutilating bodies. Such behavior was highly unusual, as most animals attack only for self-defense or food.
Villagers described the creature as a large dog-like animal. Interestingly, a similar beast had killed five and injured 20 the previous year. Authorities killed the animal, identifying it as a rabid hyena, but survivors insisted it was too large to be a hyena and claimed the slain animal wasn’t the one that attacked them.
The Terror Beast, which might have also been a rabid hyena, was never captured or identified.
6. The Mystery of Florida’s “Skunk Ape” Photos
In 2000, residents of Campbell County, Florida, reported sightings of a large, ape-like creature and discovered dead cats in their neighborhoods. Some speculated it could be the legendary “skunk ape,” a Bigfoot-like entity. The situation grew stranger when an anonymous woman mailed two photos of the creature to the police.
Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman took an interest in the case, documenting newspaper articles, the anonymous letter, and the photos sent by the woman. The Skunk Ape eventually vanished, and the photographs were never conclusively verified.
Coleman offers a plausible explanation on his website (though he and the cryptozoology community remain skeptical). A comparison image by Canadian Wildlife Service biologist Tony Scheunhamme shows the skunk ape alongside a regular orangutan. Notably, animal control had already been investigating a missing orangutan at the time.
The question of how an orangutan ended up roaming freely in Campbell County remains as puzzling as the rest of the mystery.
