What has been able to save many lives by detecting land mines and explosives quickly and safely? The explosives-sniffing African giant pouched rat. One in particular, named Magawa, was awarded the PDSA Gold Medal in September 2020 for bravery, an honor that acknowledges animals’ devotion to duty. Magawa was born in 2013 and died of […]

Studies show that animals have evolved mechanisms for protecting themselves from infection and illness. Did you know, for example, that chimpanzees eat plants not just for their nutritional value, but to ward off disease? This is important for humans because we share about 99% of our DNA with these animals, making them our closest living relatives. So instead […]