Pets & Zoos
Why Do Parrots Talk?
Parrots copy our words for the same reason wild parrots share calls: to fit in with the flock. A special brain structure helps them do it.
How Long Do Pet Tortoises Live?
Many pet tortoises live 50 to 100 years or more, so the right species and good care matter. Lifespans by species, and the 191-year record.
Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads?
A Budapest study found that dogs who know their toys by name tilt their heads when they hear them. Here is what the head tilt may mean.
The Strangest Animals You Can See in a Zoo
A cold-blooded mammal, a turtle that vacuums its food and a pig with tusks through its snout: six odd animals living in zoos today.
How Zoos Help Save Endangered Species
Breeding plans, studbooks and release programs: how zoos helped bring the California condor and black-footed ferret back from the edge.
Axolotls as Pets: What Owners Should Know
Axolotls need cool, clean, still water, a sandy floor and a lot of patience. Vet guidance on their care, plus why wild ones are in trouble.
How Smart Are Dogs Compared With Other Animals?
Dogs have more brain cells than lions or bears and read human pointing better than chimps. Here is what the research really shows.
Hamsters, Gerbils and Rats: Which Small Pet Suits You?
Hamsters mostly live alone and wake at night, gerbils are busy by day in groups, and rats need rat friends. How these three small pets differ.
Why Do Cats Purr?
Cats purr when content, when nursing, and even when hurt. Here is what the voice box does and what vets think the sound is for.