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.

A joyful white dog running framed within an oval shape, accompanied by an inspirational quote from the Viking World Cruise 2024.

Viking World Cruise – Viking Sky 2023/24

Resource Page

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


Cover of Animal Facts book by B.B. Brilliant

Download Your Own Free Copy of Fun Animal Facts

This little e-booklet is loaded with amazing fun animal facts.

Great for sharing with kids and grandkids!

Download here

For example, did you know that the barrel eye fish has a transparent head?! It can look upwards through its transparent skull. The barrel eye fish has a 360-degree field of vision without moving its body. Better than having eyes in the back of your head!


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.


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.

  • 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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  • 10 Amazing Facts About the Secretary Bird: Stilt-Walker of the African Savanna

    10 Amazing Facts About the Secretary Bird: Stilt-Walker of the African Savanna

    The Stilt-Walking Secretary Birds of Africa In the open African plains, there’s a bird so unique that it could have sprung from the pages of an explorer’s wildest journal. The secretary bird, with its long legs and quill-like feathers upon its head, is a sight to behold. It’s a bird that wears its name like…

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  • How do we Inspire Young People? Using Fun Facts to Engage Young Minds

    How do we Inspire Young People? Using Fun Facts to Engage Young Minds

    How do we inspire the Young People in our lives? I’ve been reflecting on this as we come towards the end of our time on the Viking World Cruise.  Our lives have been filled with so many awesome experiences, stories and photos!  What are the messages we want to convey to our friends and family?…

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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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Browse Our Posts – More Fascinating Creatures!

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 ...
Coyote staring into camera

Coyote Attacks on Humans: Analyzing Recent Vancouver Incidents and North American Data

Have you ever wondered if coyotes pose a threat to humans? Recent incidents in Stanley Park, Vancouver, have raised concerns ...
Deep sea anglerfish image

Deep Sea Anglerfish: 12 Amazing Facts You Might Not Believe

Deep-sea anglerfish are some of the most fascinating creatures in the world. These mysterious fish are known for their unique ...
A close up of a deep sea dragon fish with its mouth open in deep sea.

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

Bioluminescence: Deep sea dragon fish are capable of producing their own light through a chemical process called bioluminescence. They have ...
Jellyfish nervous system

Do Jellyfish have Brains? (How Jellies Hunt and Kill without Brains!)

As a biologist, I’m fascinated with one of the most successful creatures on our planet – the jellyfish. Let’s take ...
Woodpecker with tongue extended

Do Woodpecker Tongues Wrap Around the Brain? (Action Video and Diagrams)

Woodpeckers with long tongues have specialized wiry structures that wrap around the skull, but not in direct contact with the ...
Photo of giant hailstones

Does it Snow in Sydney, Australia? What is the Coldest Month? Is There Any Frost?

I was born near Sydney Australia and, although I’ve lived in Canada for most of my life, I’ve spent lots ...
Photo of bald eagle's head

Eagle Eyes and Vision | Amazing Facts and Latest Science

Eagles and other birds of prey have the best visual acuity of any group of animals. It is four to ...
Elephant bull using trunk to feed

Elephant Trunks: 10 Incredible Facts and Secrets Uncovered

Elephant trunks are actually a combination of the nose and upper lip of the elephant. They are incredibly strong and ...
Flamingo beak bent for filter-feeding

Flamingo Beaks – Why are they Bent? (Why Do Flamingos Feed Upside Down?)

Flamingo beaks have mystified scientists for over 2,000 years. I’m happy to report that scientists are gaining a good understanding ...
A viral photo demonstrating the hidden online platform for gaining millions of views.

Get 1 Million Views of Your Photos with Little Effort and Big Results

Photography has been a big part of my life since I was a youngster with my first Pentax Spotmatic. It ...
Photo of great white shark showing teethjaws

Great White Sharks – Lifespan, Lifecycle and Diet (Cool Facts You Won’t Believe)

The lifespan of great white sharks is thought to be up to 70 years or more, which is far longer ...
Greenland shark in dark ocean depths

Greenland Shark Lifespan: Earth’s Longest-Living Vertebrate

The Greenland shark has recently gained attention due to its remarkably long lifespan. Known as the longest living vertebrate, these ...
A striped fish swimming in the water promotes awareness for marine sanctuaries.

How Can We Save Our Oceans? With Marine Sanctuaries!

As a Bachelor of Science ecologist and avid free diver, I’ve done some research to see if there is progress ...
Mapping policy change

How Citizen Activists Can Make Shift Happen. A New Way of Mapping Policy Dynamics

Policy change typically unfolds according to two key determinants: 1. how contested ideas are framed, and, 2. the discursive competence ...
Photo of stonefish blending into coral and sand

How Dangerous are Stonefish? (Can You Die if You Step on a Stonefish?)

Here’s one fish that I’m glad I’ve never encountered in its natural habitat! I’ve written this article in the hope ...
Anglerfish Wikimedia

How Do Anglerfish Mate? (Endless Sex or Die Trying?!)

I’ve given hundreds of science lectures over the years, and one of my favorite creatures of all time is the ...

How do Electric Eels Work? (Can an Electric Eel Kill You?)

Electric eels can produce 600-volt electric pulses up to 400 times per second. These high-voltage pulses are so strong that ...
Photo of Komodo dragon

How Do Komodo Dragons Reproduce? (Forked Penises, Males Are Optional)

Believe me when I tell you from personal experience, that observing wild Komodo dragons from a few feet away gives ...

How Do Lions Communicate? (Why Do Lions Roar?)

Having the opportunity to view wild lions up close has been one of the top highlights in our quest to ...