Buzz
From the dawn of human civilization, a variety of animal species have evolved from being competitors to becoming invaluable assistants and companions to humans. While the dog, horse, and water buffalo are well-known helpers, a surprising range of lesser-known, unexpected, and even bizarre animals continue to be enlisted by humans to take on equally remarkable and sometimes absurd roles.
9. Fishing Cormorants
Just like wolves transformed from threats to valuable hunting partners for early humans, Asian and Mediterranean fishermen have long used ocean cormorants as unconventional hunting companions. In a strange aquatic version of falconry, these pelican relatives with their serpent-like necks and sharp beaks are trained to catch and return fish for a reward.
After being tamed from a young age, these seabirds are fitted with a collar that prevents them from swallowing their catch. Once they've caught a certain number of fish, the handler removes the collar and gives the cormorant a portion of the catch as payment. Since cormorants aren't waterproof, they must dry their feathers each day.
8. Navy Seals
The phrase “Navy Seals” can refer not only to human divers but also to our beloved small marine mammals. As literal “trained seals,” California sea lions have been conditioned to detect mines and even track enemy divers underwater. These “aquatic police dogs” patrol high-security piers, armed with a special clamp that they use to restrain enemy divers or saboteurs.
Currently, twenty-eight sea lions are working as sentinels, with one serving as a naval base guard in Washington State. Weighing 700 pounds and measuring 2.1 meters (7 feet) long, these carnivores can apprehend a target and secure them with their clamp. A human assistant can then reel the diver up from the dock, though the shock of being captured by an animal alone would likely suffice as a deterrent.
7. Wolf Eagles
Falconry has been a sport practiced by royalty and warriors across the Old World for centuries, and more recently, by dedicated hobbyist hunters. While most hunters train their birds to catch small game, Mongolian steppe hunters elevate the human-raptor partnership to a fierce new level. Using trained golden eagles—mighty birds with a wingspan of 3 meters (9 feet), often called 'The King of Birds'—Mongolian herders send these feathered warriors into battle against wolves.
The eagles dive at speeds exceeding 80 kph (50 mph), striking the wolves with a combination of force and sharp talons to kill them. While many conservationists oppose this practice, traditional hunts might be less damaging. In some cases, the eagles merely hold the wolves, allowing human hunters to deliver the final blow.
6. Electric Eel Power
Electric-eel
While previous Mytour articles have highlighted the electrocution hazards posed by these creatures, humans have found ways to harness this energy. In Japan, special tanks have been created that channel electricity from electric eels to power Christmas tree lights, providing a unique form of 'hydropower.'
5. Seeing-Eye Horse
While seeing-eye dogs have long been recognized as service animals for the visually impaired, not everyone prefers dogs. Miniature horses are gaining popularity as an alternative, offering several benefits over dogs as visual service animals. Standing as short as 0.5 meters (18 inches) at the shoulder, these small horses have better vision than dogs and are less prone to distraction.
Training a new guide dog can cost as much as $60,000, but a horse is a more economical option, as it can live up to 50 years. These horses are fully house-trainable and have better memory than traditional guide dogs, enabling them to map safe walking routes. And, of course, everyone loves ponies.
4. Snake Massage Therapy
While snakes may evoke fear, anxiety, or even disgust in some people, a different perspective led an entrepreneur to open a unique business as a reptile massage therapist. Snake massage therapy harnesses the soothing, cool, and gentle slithering and squeezing motions of the creatures, which do not bite.
Contrary to common belief, snakes are not slimy; they have smooth scales and can become quite comfortable with humans. For those seeking more practical help, some individuals have turned to snakes for a more specialized role, such as providing warnings of impending seizures. As our understanding of snakes’ sensory abilities and varied talents grows, their potential may prove to be as extensive as their long bodies.
3. Call Duck
Few animals are as despised by society as the traitor. However, the betrayal is forgiven if the traitor works for us. Instead of solely relying on dogs or falcons for hunting, humans have trained a specific type of mallard duck to deceive its wild kin and assist in hunting.
The domesticated call duck is placed in a marsh, where it calls out loudly, attracting wild ducks. The wild ducks, lured by the loud quacking, are shot by hunters once they are in range or land on the water. After the hunter shoots the ducks, the call ducks return to their handler, and dogs retrieve the fallen birds.
2. Guard Donkey
When you need to protect your property from intruders, you might think of a Rottweiler, Cane Corso, or Doberman Pinscher, animals that could easily belong in a Jack Lemmon movie. However, there's always the option of taking a more unusual route by choosing a guard donkey instead of a guard dog. These donkeys can be trained to channel their natural herd-protecting instincts to defend your property effectively, and they are becoming an increasingly popular alternative for securing homes and livestock.
These tough domestic defenders will charge at intruders, both human and animal, with no hesitation, showing off their carnivorous-like snarls, bared teeth, and ready hooves. Their stomping attacks are effective in preventing future encounters with potential threats to livestock.
1. Hero Rats
When we think of animals capable of saving lives by detecting explosives, apprehending criminals, and rescuing people from danger, dogs usually come to mind. But rats, typically seen as pests and threats to human comfort, have also been trained to help. The African pouched rat, growing up to 1 meter (3 feet) long, is a giant among rodents. Not only are they the size of a small dog, but they also share similar intelligence and trainability, making them perfect for certain life-saving tasks.
The remarkable murids, capable of rapid breeding and leash-training, are being enlisted by African non-profits to identify and remove landmines in former conflict zones. These giant rodents are playing a critical role in saving countless human lives, and the success of these operations has prompted American researchers to explore expanding the HeroRAT program to minefields around the globe.
