Although turkeys were clearly a focal point during the Thanksgiving holiday, a number of animal stories piqued the interest of readers this week. Beyond eating turkey, there are ways to fight for the humane treatment of the birds.Disturbingly, it was revealed that the pardoned White House turkey may not be getting the happy, long retirement everyone was hoping for. To brighten your post-holiday slump, check out these adorable photos of animals enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner.
In other news, deer wandered into a Kohl’s department store last Monday. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
The 2012 National Dog Show also took place this week. Although a Wire Fox Terrier won the coveted Best in Show title, a number of unusual and beautiful breeds were seen on stage.
In the scientific world, a study showed that penguins who acted selfishly in huddles actually benefitted the community as a whole. "Even if penguins are only selfish, only trying to find the best spot for themselves and not thinking about their community, there is still equality in the amount of time that each penguin spends exposed to the wind," explains Francois Blanchette, a researcher in the study.
In more penguin news, researchers found a pair of monogamous penguins that have stayed faithful to one another for over 16 years. Penguin couplings were previously thought to last between 5-10 years, with many relationships ending in “divorce” or unexpected death. “The bond they have is incredible, really,” said Pablo Garcia Borboroglu, a researcher at the National Research Council of Argentina.
Some good news surfaced this week when scientists discovered that the Pinta Island subspecies of Galapagos tortoise may actually not have ended with the death of Lonesome George this past summer. Edwin Naula, director of the Galapagos National Park, says that with a very specific crossbreeding program, the species could be resurrected in the next 100-150 years.
If you are looking for an adorable way to kick off the holiday season, watch this video of a red panda being surprised.
Find some of the week's best animal photos below:
