"There's a brutal ritual called 'phajaan' where the animal is kept caged until its spirit breaks." It may make you think twice about riding elephants
The horrifying methods used to make elephants rideable...
"Its penis splits into two, and then each of those splits again, like a branching tree." 14 weirdest, most baffling genitals nature ever invented
The wildlife world's weirdest private parts
”It was nature in its rawest and most powerful form.” Witnessing a pod of orcas was amazing enough – but then this happened...
Orcas hunt dolphins in Scotland and wildlife watchers saw the whole thing unfold
These are Africa's Big Five - how many have you seen?
Which wild animals make up the Big Five?
Possum vs opossum: what's the difference between these two curious creatures?
They may have similar-sounding names, but opossums and possums are different animals – here's how to tell them apart
"Symptoms include fever, vomiting, cramps and shortness of breath." 10 deadliest and most dangerous animals in the Mediterranean Sea
Great whites, purple stinging jellyfish and several invisible threats – how dangerous are the animals in the Mediterranean Sea?
Pitfall traps, honeytraps, sticky traps, booby traps... 10 ingenious, chilling – and ruthless – ways deadly predators lure prey to their death
Rather than chasing down their prey these ruthless killers prefer their dinner to come to them
"Once you show regeneration can be activated, it opens the door to new questions..." Mammals – including us – could regrow limbs say scientists
Scientists could be one step closer to solving a biological mystery: why animals, such as salamanders, can regrow lost limbs while mammals cannot.
This valley has one of the highest concentrations of life on Earth – from early human fossils to a mammal with vampire teeth
The Great Valley in East Africa has one of the highest concentrations of animals on Earth, from hippos and flamingos to lions and gazelles
10 ruthless, brutal videos showcasing wildlife at its angriest - and most powerful – from fighting elephant seals to hoards of angry monkeys
Anger in the animal world is not confined to humans. Here are ten videos demonstrating the full fury that animals can feel
Birds
Bat vs bird: what's the difference between these two winged animals?
What are the actual anatomical differences between bats and birds?
Why are young birds sometimes bigger than their parents?
Just why do some young birds bigger than their parents? Mike Toms explains
The weirdest bird nests on the planet – including a 2-tonne giant and one bound together with spider webs
Discover a host of weird nests built by remarkable birds that steal, sew and regurgitate to look after their chicks
A mighty hawk has made a home in New York City's Central Park. This is its story
Red-tailed hawks have taken up residence in the heart of Manhattan.
“It attacks with a short movement, sucking up the prey with an expansion of its tubular snout.” Meet 8 weirdest, bizarrest animals in Hawai'i
From a squid that projects moonlight to hide from predators to a snake that reproduces by cloning itself, Hawai'i's wildlife is stranger than you'd expect
“They simply moved in.” Thousands of tiny falcons are taking over this ancient Italian city
Thousands of lesser kestrels have been living in and around the ancient Italian city of Matera for centuries
How to identify wildlife
Red squirrel vs grey squirrel: Think you know how they differ? Think again as the differences between these two squirrels will surprise you
We take a look at how the red squirrel differs to its American grey cousin
Brown rat or water vole: How to tell the difference between these two lookalike-rodents
When all you've seen is a flash of brown fur, it can be hard to know whether it was a water vole or rat. Though the two species tend to live in different habitats, there are areas where they overlap, potentially leading to cases of mistaken identity. So how do you tell rats and water voles apart?
Mink or otter? What's the difference between these two slippery, semiaquatic lookalikes?
How do you tell the difference between otters and mink?
LRPs, PG Tips and Jizz: Cracking the secret language of birders
You’re sitting in a hide and overhear other birders talking. The conversation ranges from ‘LRPs’ and ‘roosting Leos’ and you scratch your chin as you try to decipher their code – welcome to the world of birding jargon.
It's the fastest animal in the world and its deadly claws can catch prey mid-air: Meet one of the world's most incredible birds of prey
Peregrines are the ultimate urban predator. Learn all about them, including how to spot them ‘stooping’ to catch prey
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Plants
Experts discover ‘The Heaven Sword’ after a decade searching Taiwan’s forests – and it’s taller than a 20-story building
Researchers started out on a quest to find the island's largest tree and were amazed at what they found
This extraordinary forest below the waves is the only one of its kind – and it’s home to one of the fastest-growing organisms on Earth
Stretching along South Africa’s rugged coastline lies one of the planet’s most extraordinary yet little-known ecosystems: the Great African Sea Forest
Mushrooms vs fungi: what's the difference? Discover exactly what mushroom means and why fungi shouldn't be messed with
Use the word mushroom when you mean fungus? Or just confused about what they mean – here's an explanation of the two terms
This underground web of fungi is so huge it could reach the sun 1 billion times. Scientists have mapped it for the first time
The worldwide network of mycorrhizal fungi has been mapped out – and its length is astonishing
