Some amazing animal discoveries took place this week. Dung beetles, thought to be little more than small-minded poo rollers, actually navigate the earth by following the Milky Way, a study reveals. However, the human-like interests of another animal really stole our attention. According to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., some orangutans are avid iPad users.
A new $25 million project, the longest and largest of it’s kind, is recruiting purebred golden retrievers to study the spread of cancer in dogs. But what made these animals man’s best friend in the first place? An analysis of dog DNA points to their diet for the answer. Speaking of diet, be careful what you feed your pooch-- the FDA is investigating claims that dog jerky from China is making pets sick.
In other news, 15,000 crocodiles escaped from a zoo in South Africa, endangered right whales are beginning to breed again, and an economist has launched an anti-cat campaign in New Zealand.
Was this week a chilly one for you? Maybe you can identify with the chimp in this video, who is wrapped in a blanket and refuses to go outside without it. Would you brave the cold to meet adorable penguins in Antarctica? The people in this video seemed to think it was worth it!
Find some of the week's best animal photos below:
