Nature. Travel. Animals FYI

Welcome to the World of Animals and much more! We travel the world in search of fascinating creatures and cultures in some of the most spectacular places in the world. Join us as we explore the world!

Cruise News

Follow along on our journeys as we travel around the world as guest speakers.

Viking World Cruise – Viking Sky 2023/24

Resource Page

The resource page has the key pieces of information that I mention in many of my lectures.

Share Your Memories – the Easy Way!

Learn how easy it is to create your own free eBook to share your travel adventures and photos with family and friends. Download my FREE eBook written from personal experience as a world traveler and cruise ship lecturer for over 17 years.

George Sranko free PDF cover-  share your memories of travel the easy way.

Read George’s book on the Amazing Octopus –

The Octopus Paradox: 9 Brains, 3 Hearts, and 8 Arms Make for a Fascinating Creature” Learn how octopuses make nine brains work as one!

Dive into the mesmerizing world of octopuses with this captivating book! Explore their incredible abilities, from problem-solving to tool usage. Discover the intriguing behaviors that hint at their possible consciousness. Immerse yourself in a journey that unveils the mysteries of these fascinating creatures. Get ready to be amazed and gain a whole new appreciation for the extraordinary octopus.


  • Viking World Cruise 2024

    Viking World Cruise 2024

    Hi Friends, thank you for visiting! It is my great pleasure to join you for this exciting segment of the Viking Sky World Cruise from Asia to Africa and around the Cape to Lisbon, where we will disembark. I am one of your guest speakers on board and my focus is on the Natural Sciences.…

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  • How Smart Is a Crow: Unveiling Avian Intelligence

    How Smart Is a Crow: Unveiling Avian Intelligence

    The Intelligence of a Crow Crows possess a remarkable level of intelligence that is evident in their behavior and social interactions. Their cognitive skills are on display when they encounter obstacles; they use a variety of strategies to navigate these challenges. For instance, they are known to select sticks as tools to retrieve insects from…

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  • Deep Sea Dragon Fish: 12 Fascinating Facts and Best Kept Secrets

    Deep Sea Dragon Fish: 12 Fascinating Facts and Best Kept Secrets

    Diet and Hunting Deep-sea dragonfish have a diverse diet, primarily focusing on smaller marine life such as crustaceans and various types of fish. Their unique hunting techniques allow them to effectively find and capture prey in the challenging deep-sea environment. You may find it interesting to know that the deep-sea dragonfish possess specialized adaptations for…

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  • Elephant Trunks: 10 Incredible Facts and Secrets Uncovered

    Elephant Trunks: 10 Incredible Facts and Secrets Uncovered

    Anatomy of Elephant Trunks The elephant trunk, an incredible fusion of the upper lip and nose, is a testament to the extraordinary adaptations found in these majestic animals. The anatomy of an elephant trunk, which lacks any bones or cartilage, consists of a muscular hydrostat, a powerful arrangement of muscles that makes it extremely flexible…

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  • Why Did Giraffes Evolve Long Necks? Discover the Latest Science

    Why Did Giraffes Evolve Long Necks? Discover the Latest Science

    There is still some debate about why giraffes have long necks. The accepted theory has been that long necks evolved as as an adaptation to feeding in tall trees and to help giraffes spot predators. Another idea is gaining support; it is called the “necks-for-sex” hypothesis, which suggests that a primary driver for the evolution…

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  • How Does an Anaconda Snake Kill Its Prey? Science of Constrictors Explained

    How Does an Anaconda Snake Kill Its Prey? Science of Constrictors Explained

    In recent years, it has been discovered that boa constrictors, anacondas, and other nonvenomous constrictor snakes kill their prey by inducing cardiac arrest rather than suffocation. This means that the constriction process is quicker and more efficient than previously thought. When these snakes wrap their coils around their prey, they apply pressure that essentially stops…

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  • The Blue-Ringed Octopus: A Shy, Venomous Creature That Can Kill You

    The Blue-Ringed Octopus: A Shy, Venomous Creature That Can Kill You

    The Blue-ringed octopus only shows its bright blue rings when it is disturbed and ready to bite in self defense. This small marvel from Australia and the Western Pacific possesses enough venom to kill approximately 30 people, making the toxin 1,000 times more lethal than cyanide. Those who fall victim to its bite may not…

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  • Are Octopuses Classified as Fish? Discover Crucial Differences

    Are Octopuses Classified as Fish? Discover Crucial Differences

    No, octopuses are not fish. They are mollusks, like clams and snails. In fact, octopuses are like super-intelligent, highly-evolved clams with eight arms rather than one foot! Octopuses, along with squid, cuttlefish, and nautiluses, are members of the class Cephalopoda, which belongs to the phylum Mollusca. Cephalopods are highly advanced and organized marine animals without…

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  • Why is the Giraffe’s Tongue Black? Is it Really as Long as Your Arm?

    Why is the Giraffe’s Tongue Black? Is it Really as Long as Your Arm?

    The color of a giraffe’s tongue is quite fascinating! It is a dark blue or black, which is believed to provide extra protection from the sun. You might wonder why that’s necessary, and the answer lies in their eating habits. Giraffes spend a considerable amount of time with their tongues out as they browse and…

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  • What is the Longest Living Animal? How Long Can an Animal Live? 500 Years?

    What is the Longest Living Animal? How Long Can an Animal Live? 500 Years?

    Here are the ten longest-living animal species on Earth, along with some fascinating differences in physiology. Ocean Quahog Ocean Quahog, a type of clam, is considered the longest-living animal species, with some reaching the incredible age of more than 500 years! These bivalve mollusks have a very slow metabolism, which means they age at a…

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Browse Our Posts – More Fascinating Creatures!

Photo of hamster

12 Cannibal Animal Facts and Surprises! (Is Your Cute Hamster Truly Harmless?)

Contrary to popular belief, cannibalism—the act of eating members of one's own species—occurs frequently in the natural world. For examples ...
Sunrise over Table Mountain in Cape Town, capturing the mesmerizing beauty of South Africa.

12 Reasons to Visit Table Mountain, Cape Town – Fun Facts and 360 Photos

Table Mountain was recently voted one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. We took the cable car to the ...
360 camera captures impossible shots using travel tips to get the best shots.

360 Camera Travel Tips (How to Get the Best Shots with your 360 Camera)

I’ve used a 360 camera in my travels around the world for over half a dozen years.   I like to ...
A crowd of people in a large auditorium attending an awesome travel presentation.

5 Top Tips for Awesome Travel Presentations (That Will Make You Stand Out!)

As a frequent guest speaker, I have given hundreds of presentations to audiences of 100-300 people or more. In this ...
African elephants walking down a dirt road, showcasing their essential role in the ecosystem.

African Elephant Habitat Is No Accident (Essential Role of Elephants in the Ecosystem)

One of our favorite activities in Africa is to watch elephants in the wild. Anywhere, anytime! They are such intelligent ...
Ant farming aphids on branch

Ants and Aphids: Fascinating Facts and Natural History

Ants and aphids are two fascinating creatures that have a unique relationship in the natural world. Ants are social insects ...

Are Birds Dinosaurs? Latest Science (How Birds Evolved from Dinosaurs)

Yes, birds are the direct descendants of theropod dinosaurs, such as T. rex, that roamed planet earth over 100 million ...
Photo of Komodo dragon

Are Komodo Dragons Dangerous? (Where Can you See Them?)

Ever since my days as a young biologist, one of my favourite creatures of all time has been the amazing ...
Photo of naked mole rat

Are Naked Mole Rats Blind? | Weird Facts (Murderous Queens and Deadly Daughters)

Naked mole rats are not entirely blind, but they have very limited vision. Even though naked mole rats are rodents ...
Octopus with arms stretched wide

Are Octopuses Classified as Fish? Discover Crucial Differences

No, octopuses are not fish. They are mollusks, like clams and snails. In fact, octopuses are like super-intelligent, highly-evolved clams ...
wolf showing teeth

Are Wolf Dogs Safe or Dangerous? Do Wolves or Wolf Dogs Make Good Pets?

I’ve always been fascinated with wolves and their ability to hunt cooperatively to bring down large animals like moose and ...
African elephants standing in the grass, highlighting their essential role in maintaining habitat ecosystems.

Best Cruise Destinations for Wildlife in Africa / Madagascar.

Best Cruise Ports in Africa for Nature Lovers, Birders & Wildlife Watchers We have given nature presentations on cruise ships ...
A man in a hat is standing next to a dead lizard on Komodo Island.

Best Cruise Ports for Nature-lovers in Australia and New Zealand (& Komodo Island)

We have given nature presentations on cruise ships for many years and have had the opportunity to visit over 90 ...
Kodiak bear up close, Kodiak Alaska

Best Wildlife Watching in Alaska by Cruise Ship

As biologists and nature-lovers, our focus in this article is to provide some of the best wildlife watching experiences close ...
Cranes migrating

Bird Migration Patterns | How Do Birds Navigate Without Getting Lost?

Bird migration remains one of the most fascinating phenomena in the animal kingdom, showcasing the remarkable navigational skills of our ...
Jellyfish washed up on beach

Can Dead Jellyfish Sting?  How Do Stinging Cells (Nematocysts) Work? Is Vinegar Effective?

Yes, dead jellyfish can still sting you, even if you find one washed up on the beach. And it doesn’t ...
Photo showing octopus

Can Octopus Arms Grow Back? (Are Regenerated Limbs Just as Good?)

Octopuses can regenerate entire arms, even though each arm has a mini brain and an extensive network of neurons. Healing ...
Octopus walking across sea floor

Can Octopuses Walk on Two Legs? Octopus Locomotion Explained

Yes, octopuses have been observed walking on two legs. Its called "bipedal locomotion." I'm a biologist and I've written this ...
Scaling Australia's Scariest Tourist Attraction, the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree.

Climbing the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree – Australia’s Scariest Tourist Attraction?

No one told me this was Australia’s scariest tourist attraction! Climbing a 75 m fire lookout tree seemed like a ...
PowerPoint slide showing cone snail capturing and eating fish

Cone Snails: How Can a Snail Hunt and Kill Fish? Venomous Harpoons!

Hunting Techniques Cones snails, unlike most snails, actively hunt small fish, marine worms, and other mollusks with a harpoon-like dart ...