February 17, 2026 Orphaned baby monkey finds comfort in stuffed animal after being abandoned by mother at birth Baby monkey Punch-kun draws huge crowds to Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan after viral photos show him clutching a stuffed orangutan for comfort.
February 17, 2026 Baby monkey carries faithful stuffed companion everywhere he goes, drawing crowds at zoo Born in July and abandoned soon afterward, Punch-kun now treats a stuffed orangutan like the mother he never had. (Courtesy @20230605x_x via Storyful)
February 17, 2026 Urgent warning issued by CDC as chikungunya virus outbreak hits vacation destination CDC issues level 2 travel warning for Bolivia as chikungunya virus outbreak spreads rapidly in Santa Cruz and Cochabamba departments with rising cases.
February 16, 2026 Largest measles outbreak in recent history reported on southwestern Florida college campus A historic measles outbreak has hit Ave Maria University in Florida with over 40 infections, marking the largest wave of college campus infections in recent history.
February 13, 2026 Popular honeymoon destination faces avian malaria threat, spread by mosquitoes New research shows most Hawaiian forest birds carry avian malaria, fueling widespread transmission and raising extinction risks for native wildlife.
February 8, 2026 Man drives 5,600 miles, spends over $12K chasing lifelong dream of extreme journey A Saudi man drove 5,600 miles from his home to Norway to see the northern lights, spending $12,300 on an epic three-week road trip adventure through 19 countries.
February 7, 2026 Over 5,000 cold-stunned iguanas removed in two days during state's record freeze Over 5,000 invasive green iguanas were captured in Florida during a recent freeze that left the reptiles cold-stunned and temporarily paralyzed on the ground.
February 6, 2026 Measles outbreak poses risk of 'irreversible' brain damage, health officials warn South Carolina health officials warned of "irreversible" neurological damage after a measles outbreak hospitalized 19 patients with dangerous complications.
February 3, 2026 Baby elephant makes historic arrival at Smithsonian's National Zoo as first birth in nearly 25 years Rare Asian elephant birth at Smithsonian's National Zoo marks first new calf in nearly 25 years, offering new hope for endangered species conservation efforts.
February 3, 2026 Baby elephant takes first steps after historic birth at Smithsonian’s National Zoo Video shows a newborn Asian elephant calf standing and walking just hours after being born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, its first elephant birth in nearly 25 years. (Credit: Smithsonian National Zoo)