All animals have traits that can help them survive in their surroundings. Here are some interesting facts about some animals and how their physical features can become the reason for their death.
The world is full of wonders and tragedies, and when it comes to the animal kingdom, we are always astonished by new information about different species. Animals are an indispensable part of our ecosystem, and we are doing our best to protect these species from going extinct. However, do you know some animals are capable of killing themselves? Yes, you read it right that some animals can sadly become the reason for their death accidentally.
Sloths are slow or lazy animals, but they are clever than they appear. Sloths do not die by grabbing their hand with the other hand while hugging a tree, and it is a myth. They cannot die by falling from a tree as they are three times stronger than an average human being.
But, sloths can get killed by their body part, which is their stomach. Their digestion system is so slow that sometimes it takes them more than a month to digest a single leaf. Moreover, they are not capable of controlling their body temperature to survive. When the environment becomes cold, the microbes in their stomach die. They cannot digest any food present in their belly due to this reason. Sadly, it leads to their death if not taken care of their health on time.
Turtles and tortoises have shells made from bones to protect them from attackers. However, this shield can become the cause of their death when a turtle or tortoise gets stuck on its back and cannot flip back due to its heavy weight. Turtles or tortoises can die by getting stuck on their back shell for too long as they get exposed to dangers.
Furthermore, a turtle or tortoise can die from heat if they get stuck on its back for too long in the Sun. Also, from hunger, if left in the shadow for extended hours stuck on its back. As a result, the shell that protects it from hazards might also be the source of its demise.
A Babirusa or Babyrousa, identified as deer pigs due to their swine-like body features. The male babirusa has tusks that grow inward continuously as they age. These long tusks sometimes become the cause of their death as it pierces through their snout. However, ingrown tusks are not the sole cause of babirousa's death, but poaching, territory fights are some common causes of their death. Hunting down and killing a babirusa is a criminal offence.
The lifespan of a babirusa is 10-15 years, and some of them have lived beyond 20 years in their health. They are found in Indonesian Islands and are considered endangered species.
Bighorn sheep, commonly known as Wild Rams, have curved horns textured like a corkscrew. As the horns of the wild rams grow inwards, they can penetrate its head, eventually resulting in death.
Besides, the male bighorn rams can get killed during mating season when a dominance clash occurs. The competing male bighorn rams jump at each other for headbutts that become so forceful that they can result in the death of either of them.
Myth - Pythons kills themselves by crushing their prey for too long
No wonder how amusing it sounds but a python, or for that matter any reptile, cannot kill itself by trying to squeeze its prey for too long. They exert pressure on their prey for as long as they stop breathing, eventually dying from cardiac arrest. However, pythons are so aware that they cannot die themselves during this constriction on their prey.
