If the internet was a perfect place, it would surely give us something more valuable than time well wasted. Imagine how awesome it would be if our all-time favorite pet pics and animal videos were to meet the knowledge we all crave. Well, guess what?
This Reddit community titled "Awwducational" is doing precisely that. Created in November 2012, it has become home to some of the most amusing educational facts you’d love to share on your next trivia round with friends. The best part: they all have to do with the most wholesome furry creatures out there, from cute possums and giggling rats, to playful cows and the slow-mo sloths.
So let’s get ready to soak up some did-you-knows and make your biology teacher proud. And scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview with r/awwducational senior moderators who shared some insights about their wholesome Reddit community.
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Trained African Giant Pouched Rats Have Found Thousands Of Unexploded Landmines And Bombs. Researchers Have Also Trained These Rats To Detect Tuberculosis. And Most Recently They Are Training Them To Sniff Out Poached Wildlife Trophies Being Exported Out Of African Ports
In Most Western Cultures, Black Cats Are Considered A Bad Omen. But In Scottish Lore, The Arrival Of A Strange Black Cat Signifies Prosperity
My black cat has brought an abundance of feline love into my life, so yes, I believe the Scottish Lore to be true.
Cheetahs Are So Shy That Zoos Give Them Their Own Emotional “Support Dogs”
To find out more about this awesome subreddit, we spoke to senior moderators u/IchTanze and u/AGreatWind. Reddit user u/IchTanze, who has been moderating r/awwducational for 5 years now, said that the cool title of the subreddit refers to the “aww” reaction to insects, flowers, baby animals, or a critically endangered species. “‘Aww is in the eye of the beholder’ as we say,” he said.
Meanwhile, “The educational component is what gets added in the comment section, where the user must provide a source for their fact in the title that is either peer-reviewed, from a highly reputable source, or has citations from one of the above to back it up.” Most importantly, the community wants their users to learn something.
Opposums Get A Lot Of Hate, But They Clear Many Unwanted Bugs And Parasites From The Ecosystem And Are Generally Helpful Friends. Please Appreciate Them, Especially This Good Boy
A Sloth's Claws Work The Opposite Way That Human Hand Does. The Default Position Is A Tight Strong Grip, And Sloths Must Exert Effort To Open Them Up. This Is Why Sloths Don't Fall Out Of Trees When They're Asleep
Cows Have "Eureka" Moments, And Take Pleasure In Their Own Learning Achievements
Another senior user u/AGreatWind commented that they allow content about natural history as well as “animals and plants of all kinds, even if their cuteness may be... subjective.” The moderator said that users provide a source for their fact, which must link to peer-reviewed research or an article that links to peer-reviewed research, which is then verified by a member of the mod team.
“Our mod team is a diverse group of animal lovers, enthusiasts, and scientists from a range of backgrounds spanning ecology, biophysics, and infectious disease.”
u/AGreatWind also said that it’s a lot of work as each post needs to be attended to, but the community enjoys it since they “get to learn new things every day.”
Scientists Know That Rats Like To Have Their Bellies Tickled, So They Used That As Basis For Testing Happiness In Rats. They Found Out That The Ears Of Rats Undergoing Tickling Became Droopier And Pinker - Subtle Signs Of Being Relaxed And Happy
The Opossum Is North America's Only Marsupial, They Can Eat 5000 Ticks A Year And Are Almost Immune To Rabies! Their Body Temperature Is Too Low For The Virus To Survive!
Lynx Have Evolved Enormous Paws To Distribute Weight Better In Snow, Acting Like Natural Snowshoes
Redditor u/AGreatWind said that in his time as a moderator here, “we went from 50,000 subscribers to over 2 million. In that time, we have maintained a consistent approach to verification and civility.” Thus, u/AGreatWind likes to think of /r/Awwducational as "a big little sub."
“We are rather large by subscriber count, but the community still feels small because of the interaction and cooperation we have with them. We try to engage with and listen to our subscribers rather than try to herd them, much as we did when there were only a few thousand.”
In the r/awwducational community, the users make it as much as the mod team. “So often someone in the comments has a remarkable insight about a post's subject animal, be it cooperation amongst lab rats, newly discovered birds of paradise, or the hyoid mechanics of a snow leopard's voice box. It’s fantastic!”
Seagulls Stomping On Grass Is Called, The Rain Dance. This Mimics Rain By Vibration, And Brings Earthworms And Other Bugs To Surface
Blue Penguins Are The Smallest Type Of Penguin. Adults Reach Only 12-13in Tall. Owing To Their Small Size And Bright Color They Are Often Called Fairy Penguins
bippity boppity you are nobodies property. AND KEEP IT THAT WAY!
The Burmese Star Tortoise Is One Of The Few Animals That Have Comeback From Being Called Functionally Extinct
A University Of Chicago Study Found That Rats Are Just As Capable Of Empathy As Humans
I'm sorry Danny de Meyer I hope u meet some truly kind empathetic people some day. Your life will change for the better. Navydave isn't one of them. Ugh
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Without a certain amount of empathy, rat packs wouldn’t survive—-their population would dwindle if they didn’t look out for each other. That’s something a lot of humans seem to forget when they start playing their zero sum games.
I had a pet rat with a middle ear problem who couldn't sit up properly. One day I saw her sister sit down next to her and gently prop her up so she could groom. It was amazing.
Maybe if they would leave you at least one M&M?
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It's a lot to expect from a human, too. I think most people would save a piece but not everyone would, and very rarely would someone save an equal share.
I must differ with your opinion. The people I know not only would share what they have but would give all and do without themselves. I hope you meet some people like this in your life. Here's a hug pass it forward. Here's two.
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*More* empathy, I think you'll find. Are any animals psychopaths or sociopaths?
I actually suspect the answer is yes. Observing the psychology of animals is difficult because they change in captivity, but animals have been observed showing signs of anxiety and even autism. Humans aren't as unique as we like to think we are.
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Slight tangent, but I found the Down the Rabbit Hole episode on the Mouse Utopia experiments very interesting. Not because it has anything to say about the inevitable decay of society, but because it shows how mice have such a strong social urge, they will interact with others to their own detriment, even their to their babies' detriment. (A bit like us and phones, I guess) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgGLFozNM2o&ab_channel=FredrikKnudsen
How sad and horrible we are not to appreciate that animals have feelings.
When we humans have managed to kill off ourselves from lack of sense and empathy, some animals with more sense and empathy than us will take over.
How wonderful there is love and caring in even God’s smallest animals, who knew!
Is it any wonder ? Rats are extremely sociable. They feel the chances to survive are much higher if they help one another than if they try to stay on their own. Why do you think HUMANS did learn empathy in the first place ?
That’s sad. The rat is in a tiny tank and one of them is trapped. It’s so weird to be surprised by that. Obviously they can. Rats are really smart.
Rats are awesome. Best pets ever, though they only live about 2 years.
when rats are more compassionate and empathetic than the president of the United States..
traditional psychology does not consider that other animals have empathy, some other emotions, and language capabilites (like dolphins) and that has impact on society and laws. By researching and proving those old theories wrong is really necessary. It's not pleasant, but we need that to prove animals deserve better treatment. Although it is almost a "one at a time" situation.
Load More Replies...150 Kākāriki Karaka Chicks Have Hatched This Season, Potentially Doubling The This Rare Birds Population
The Northern Cardinal Is Probably The Most 'Romantic' Bird Species: They Mate For Life, Travel Together, Sing Before Nesting, And During Courtship, Feed Seed Beak-To-Beak
When In Danger, The Malabar Giant Squirrel Often Freezes Or Flattens Itself Against The Tree Trunk, Instead Of Fleeing
The Pudú Deer Is The Smallest Species Of Deer Standing At 15 Inches Tall On Average
The Milk Of Pinnipeds Consist Of Up To 60% Fat, Allowing The Young To Grow Fairly Quickly. Pups Can Gain Over 2.2 Kg (4.9 Lb) Per Day While Nursing
A Newborn Chinese Water Deer Is So Small It Can Almost Be Held In The Palm Of The Hand. When It Matures, Instead Of Growing Antlers, They Grow Long Upper Canine Teeth Gaining Them The Name "Vampire Deer"
Cows Have Similar Emotional Range As Dogs. They Display Boldness, Shyness, Fearfulness And Even Playfulness
And they can have a life long best cow friend whom they stick with whenever possible!
Van Kittens Are Initially Born With Pale Blue Eyes, Which Change To A Deeper Blue Or Amber As They Grow Older. Occasionally, You’ll Also See A Van With One Amber Eye And One Blue Eye, Or Two Blue Eyes Of Different Hues
Pigs Have Episodic Memory. It Is Likely That They Can Replay And Feel Past Experiences In Their Heads
Flamingo's Pink Coloring Comes From The Shrimp They Eat, And In 1992 In The Miami Zoo They Had To Stick The Flamingos In The Bathroom To Ride Out Hurricane Andrew
Even though it's for their own safety, the poor things look confused.
This Is The Raccoon Dog, The Only Extant Species In The Genus Nyctereutes. It's A Close Relative Of True Foxes And The Only Canid Known To Hibernate During The Winter
It's also the inspiration for the tanuki, since raccoons aren't native to Japan. Raccoons were later introduced, though.
The Okapi's Closest Realative Is The Giraffe. Okapis Were Descovered In 1901. Unfortunately, They Are Now Endangered
Rats Giggle When You Tickle Them. Their Voices Are So High-Pitched You Need Special Equipment To Hear Them, But When You Do, Their Laughs Are Immediately Evident
Tigers Are Carnivores, But Will Eat Fruit In Order To Ease Digestion
Most carnivores eat plants in some capacity. Just like most herbivores will eat meat in some capacity. There are very few 100% carnivores or herbivores.
Adult Giraffes Only Sleep For A Couple Of Minutes At A Time. Baby Giraffes Will Sleep For Much Longer Periods Of Time With Their Head Resting On Their Rump
Done Brushing Your Dog? Birds Love Using The Hair To Build Nests. Set Aside One Birdfeeder To Fill With Hair
The Eyes Of The Blunthead Tree Snake Make Up Approximately 26% Of Its Head
Bats Are Not Rodents. They Are Their Own Group Called Chiroptera. They Are More Closely Related To Cats Than Rats
They're the second most speciose group of mammals. Around 1/5 of all mammal specoes are bats. (Biggest is rodents, at 2/5 species).
The World's Oldest Known Wild Bird, Wisdom The Laysan Albatross, Has Laid An Egg At 67! Wisdom Has Outlived Several Mates And Has Raised 30 To 35 Chicks
Native To India, Sloth Bears Are The Only Ursids Known To Carry Their Young For Extended Periods. Cubs Will Ride On Their Mother’s Backs For Six To Seven Months After Leaving The Den
The Platypus Is Unique Not Only For Laying Eggs. It Also Has Elecrtoreceptors In Its Snout For Locating Prey, Eyes With Double Cones, No Stomach, A Single Duct For Their Urinary, Defecatory, And Reproductive System, 10 Chromosomes, And The Males Have Venomous Barbs On Their Hind Legs
Cows Can Recognise Individual Humans, Even When They Wear The Same Clothes
Never seen a herd of real cows wearing the same clothes, although I've seen cows wearing the same clothes.
The Red Wolf (Canis Rufus) Is The Most Endangered Canid Species Alive. There Are Less Than 35 Individuals In The Wild After An Attempt To Bring The Species Numbers Up (Peaking At 130 Individuals In 2006). These Wolves Form Close-Knit Packs That Consist Of The Breeding Pair And Their Offspring
Captain Cook Collected Quolls Along The East Coast In 1770, And Recorded 'Quoll' As Their Local Aboriginal Name. Quolls Were Often Seen By Early Settlers, Who Called Them 'Native Cat', 'Native Polecat' And 'Spotted Marten', Names Based On Familiar European Animals
Cats Can Nurse Hedgehogs
The Red Fox's Adaptability And Resourcefulness Have Earned It A Legendary Reputation For Intelligence And Cunning. Also, A Fox's Tail Is Called A "Brush"
Male Ostriches Will Mate With 3 To 5 Hens That Will Lay Their Eggs In A Single Nest That The Male Digs Out. Every Night The Male Incubates The Eggs And During The Day The Dominate Female Will Incubate The Eggs, Which Take Around 40 Days To Hatch. The Male And The Females Will Help Raise The Chicks
There were a number of animals I had never heard of... always enjoy learning new things about them!
This was a lovely list, I really like reading about new facts from the animal kingdom.
Dolphins can teach each other things over language. In an US-zoo one female dolphin learned to “buy“ fish from the wardens. (She got fish for bringing trash and dead birds to her caregivers. Soon she started to bait seagulls with fish and kill them - and ripping up papers and plastics in smaller pieces for more fish.) First she taught it her calf and soon the dolphins in other enclosures started doing it, despite not having physical contact with the others.
Please don't do the dog/pet hair thing if you use a topical anti flea treatment. It's a deadly toxin to most birds.
Orca have been known to help whaling fleets, back when it was done by rowboat. They would help tow the rowboat out to the whales, then feast on the remains, especially the tongue. There is a whaling museum in Australia with the Orca skeletons and all the details
Another site with comment sections showing the worst in humanity. Apparently not even BP is safe from people that think it’s fine to harm animals. For gods sake.
SO F*****G CUTE F**K PEOPLE WHO DONT LIKE DIS AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH
BLUE FAIRY PENGUIN BLUE FAIRY PENGUIN BLUE FAIRY PENGUIN
Quote taken from PETA's website: “We have moved away from studying human disease in humans. … We all drank the Kool-Aid on that one, me included. … The problem is that [animal testing] hasn’t worked, and it’s time we stopped dancing around the problem. … We need to refocus and adapt new methodologies for use in humans to understand disease biology in humans.” —Dr. Elias Zerhouni
Despite the evident animal vivisection photos, this was a great learning experience.
There were a number of animals I had never heard of... always enjoy learning new things about them!
This was a lovely list, I really like reading about new facts from the animal kingdom.
Dolphins can teach each other things over language. In an US-zoo one female dolphin learned to “buy“ fish from the wardens. (She got fish for bringing trash and dead birds to her caregivers. Soon she started to bait seagulls with fish and kill them - and ripping up papers and plastics in smaller pieces for more fish.) First she taught it her calf and soon the dolphins in other enclosures started doing it, despite not having physical contact with the others.
Please don't do the dog/pet hair thing if you use a topical anti flea treatment. It's a deadly toxin to most birds.
Orca have been known to help whaling fleets, back when it was done by rowboat. They would help tow the rowboat out to the whales, then feast on the remains, especially the tongue. There is a whaling museum in Australia with the Orca skeletons and all the details
Another site with comment sections showing the worst in humanity. Apparently not even BP is safe from people that think it’s fine to harm animals. For gods sake.
SO F*****G CUTE F**K PEOPLE WHO DONT LIKE DIS AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH
BLUE FAIRY PENGUIN BLUE FAIRY PENGUIN BLUE FAIRY PENGUIN
Quote taken from PETA's website: “We have moved away from studying human disease in humans. … We all drank the Kool-Aid on that one, me included. … The problem is that [animal testing] hasn’t worked, and it’s time we stopped dancing around the problem. … We need to refocus and adapt new methodologies for use in humans to understand disease biology in humans.” —Dr. Elias Zerhouni
Despite the evident animal vivisection photos, this was a great learning experience.
