Exploding animal: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Events in which a creature bursts apart}}

{{For|specific information about animals used as bombs|Animal-borne bomb attacks}}

The [[explosion]] of [[animal]]s is an uncommon event arising throughfrom natural causes or human activity. Among the best known examples are the [[post-mortem]] [[Exploding whale|explosion of whales]], either as a result of natural [[decomposition]] or deliberate attempts at [[Carrion|carcass]] disposal.<ref name="hackstadtevidence">Steven Hackstadt, [http://www.theexplodingwhale.com/#evidence The Evidence], TheExplodingWhale.com Accessed November 7, 2005; [http://perp.com/whale/ The Infamous Exploding Whale] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029125043/http://www.perp.com/whale/ |date=2007-10-29 }} perp.com, Accessed June 6, 2005</ref> Other instances of exploding animals are defensive in nature or the result of human intervention.

==Causes of explosions==

Natural explosions can occur for a variety of reasons. [[Post-mortem]] explosions, like that of a [[beached whale]], are the result of the build-up of natural gases created by methane-producing bacteria inside the carcass during the decomposition process.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3437455.stm Sperm whale explodes in Taiwanese City]," ''eTaiwan News'', January 27, 2004 (accessed November 17, 2006)</ref> Natural explosions which occur while an animal is living may be defense-related. A number of [[toad]]s in [[Germany]] and [[Denmark]] [[exploding toad|exploded]] in April 2005.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4486247.stm Mystery of German exploding toads]," ''BBC News'', April 27, 2005 (accessed November 17, 2006)</ref> The ''Los Angeles Herald'' in 1910 reported a [[duck]] which exploded after consuming yeast.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=February 1, 1910|title=Duck Full of Yeast Explodes; Man Loses Eye|work=Los Angeles Herald|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19100201.2.108.73&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1|url-status=live|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref>

===Weaponization===

Various [[military]] attempts have been made to use animals as delivery systems for weapons. In [[Song Dynastydynasty]] China, oxen carrying large explosive charges were used as self-propelled explosive missiles.<ref>{{cite book|last=Turnbull|first=Stephen|title=Siege Weapons of the Far East: AD 300–1300|year=2001|publisher=Osprey Publishing|page=40|isbn=9781841763392|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=12uahIduJj4C&pg=PT38&dqq=China%2C%20ox%20bomb%20weapon#v=onepage+ox+bomb+weapon&qpg=China,%20ox%20bomb%20weaponPT38}}</ref> During [[World War II]] the [[United States]] investigated the use of "[[bat bomb]]s", or [[bat]]s carrying small [[Incendiary device|incendiary bomb]]s,<ref Name=AFA>[http://www.afa.org/magazine/1990/1090bat.asp The Bat Bombers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206195359/http://www.afa.org/magazine/1990/1090bat.asp |date=2006-12-06 }}, C. V. Glines, Journal of the Airforce Association, October 1990, Vol. 73, No. 10 (accessed November 17, 2006)</ref> while at the same time the [[Soviet Union]] developed the "[[anti-tank dog]]" for use against German [[tank]]s.<ref>[http://www.soviet-empire.com/1/military/anti-tank/dog_mine/ Dog Anti-Tank Mine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708155840/http://www.soviet-empire.com/1/military/anti-tank/dog_mine/ |date=2019-07-08 }}, Soviet-Empire.com (accessed November 17, 2006)</ref> Other attempts have included the so-called "''kamikaze'' dolphins", intended to seek out and destroy submarines and enemy warships.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/670551.stm Iran buys kamikaze dolphins], BBC News, Wednesday, 8 March 2000, 16:45 GMT</ref> There have also been a number of documented incidents of [[animal-borne bomb attacks]], in which [[donkey]]s, [[mule]]s or [[horse]]s were used to deliver [[improvised explosive device|bombs]].<ref>[http://www.peta.org/feat/arafat/ Leave the Animals in Peace: PETA's letter to Yasser Arafat] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128222159/http://www.peta.org/feat/arafat/ |date=2009-11-28 }} February 3, 2003.[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]]</ref><ref>[http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Focus/GH12Dh02.html Dogs of war can be friend or foe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504164945/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Focus/GH12Dh02.html |date=2009-05-04 }} August 12, 2005. [[The Standard (Hong Kong)|The Standard]] (originally from ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'')</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/03/exploding_donkey/|title = Taliban attack Brit troops with explosive donkey| website=[[The Register]] }}</ref>

== Examples ==

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===Ants===

Some insects explode [[Altruism (biology)|altruistically]], at the expense of the individual in defense of its [[ant colony|colony]]; the process is called [[autothysis]]. Several species of [[ant]]s, such as ''[[Camponotus saundersi]]'' in southeast [[Asia]], can explode at will to protect their nests from intruders.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Jones TH, Clark DA, Edwards AA, Davidson DW, Spande TF, Snelling RR |journal=J. Chem. Ecol. |volume=30 |issue=8 |pages=1479–92 |title=The chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus spp. (cylindricus complex) |date=August 2004 |pmid=15537154 |doi= 10.1023/B:JOEC.0000042063.01424.28|bibcode=2004JCEco..30.1479J |s2cid=23756265 |url=http://www.kluweronline.com/art.pdf?issn=0098-0331&volume=30&page=1479}}</ref><ref>[http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol6/no18/explodingants.html ''Exploding Ants: Amazing Facts About How Animals Adapt''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628052518/http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol6/no18/explodingants.html |date=2006-06-28 }}, Joanne Settel, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon& Schuster, New York, NY, 1999 {{ISBN|0-689-81739-8}}</ref> ''C. saundersi'', a species of carpenter ant, can self-destruct by [[autothysis]]. Two oversized, poison-filled mandibular glands run the entire length of the ant's body. When combat takes a turn for the worse, the ant violently contracts its abdominal muscles to rupture its body and spray poison in all directions. Likewise, many species of [[termite]]s, such as ''[[Globitermes sulphureus]]'', have members, deemed the soldier class, who can split their bodies open emitting a noxious and sticky chemical for the same reason.<ref name="GR3922">{{cite book | last = Piper | first = Ross | title = Extraordinary Animals | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | date = 2007-08-30 | ___location = Santa Barbara, CA | pages = [https://archive.org/details/extraordinaryani0000pipe/page/25 25–27] | url = https://archive.org/details/extraordinaryani0000pipe/page/25 | doi = 10.1336/0313339228 | id = GR3922 | isbn = 978-0-313-33922-6 }}</ref>

===Cows===

In January 1932, the ''[[Townsville Daily Bulletin]]'', an Australian newspaper, reported an incident where a [[dairy cow]] was partially blown up and killeddied on a farm at Kennedy Creek (near [[Cardwell, Queensland|Cardwell]], [[North Queensland]]). The cow had reputedly picked up a [[detonatorblasting cap]] in her mouth while grazing in a paddock. This was only triggered later, when the cow began to chew her [[cud]], at a time when she was in the process of being [[Milking|milked]]. The cow had its head blown off by the resulting explosion, and the farmer milking the cow was knocked unconscious.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61348469 "Was it suicide?: A moo-cow's end"] – ''[[Townsville Daily Bulletin]]'' (Qld.: 1907–1954), 15 January 1932. Accessed 5 June 2015.</ref>

=== Rats ===

The [[explosive rat]], also known as a rat bomb, was a weapon developed by the British [[Special Operations Executive]] (SOE) in World War II for use against Germany. Rat carcasses were filled with plastic explosives, and were to be distributed near German boiler rooms, where it was expected they would be disposed of by burning, with the subsequent explosion having a chance of causing a boiler explosion. The explosive rats never saw use, as the first shipment was intercepted by the Germans; however, the resulting search for more booby trapped rats consumed enough German resources for the SOE to conclude that the operation was a success.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.military-history.org/weapons-technology/back-to-the-drawing-board-exploding-rats.htm|title=Back to the Drawing Board — EXPLODING RATS!|website=Military History Monthly|date=15 February 2012|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>

===Toads===

According to worldwide media reports inIn April 2005, [[toad]]s in the [[Altona, Hamburg|Altona]] district of Hamburg were observed by nature protection officials to swell up with [[gas]]es and explode, propelling their innards for distances of up to one meter.<ref name="msnbc">{{cite news |date=2005-04-28 |title=Hungry crows may be behind exploding toads |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7654561 |access-date=2019-03-23 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |agency=Associated press}}</ref> These incidents prompted local residents to refer to the area's lake—home to the toads—toads—as {{Lang-Langx|de|Tümpel des Todes|lit=Pool of Death|label=asnone}}.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} The incidents were reported as occurring with greatest frequency between 2 and 3 a.m. Werner Smolnik, an [[environmental movement]] worker, stated on April 26, 2005,that at least 1,000 toads had died in this manner over athe seriesspan of a few days. According to Smolnik, the toads expanded to three and a half times their normal size before blowing up.<ref name="msnbc" /> The toads were noted to live a short time after exploding.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title =HungryMystery crowsof may be behindGerman exploding toads|work =bbc.co.uk|publisher =BBC|date =2005-04-27|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4486247.stm|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref>

|work =Associated press|publisher =nbcnews.com|date =2005-04-28| url =http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7654561/#.XJaNBIrPz-g|accessdate = 2019-03-23}}</ref> According to German conservationist Werner Smolnik, the toads expanded to three and a half times their normal size before blowing up, and were noted to live a short time after exploding.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title =Mystery of German exploding toads|work =bbc.co.uk|publisher =BBC|date =2005-04-27|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4486247.stm|accessdate=2018-12-05}}</ref>

Initial theories had included a [[virus|viral]] or [[fungus|fungal]] infection, possibly one also affecting foreign [[horse]]s involved in [[horse racing]] at a nearby track. However, laboratory tests were unable to detect an infectious agent.<ref name="msnbc" /> Berlin [[Veterinary physician|veterinarian]] Franz Mutschmann collected toad corpses and performed [[necropsy|necropsies]]., Heand theorisedhypothesized that the phenomenon was linked to a recent influx of predatory [[crow]]s to the area. HeAccording statedto thathis thetheory, causecrows was a mixture of crow attacks and the natural puff up defense ofattacked the toads. Crowsand attackedpicked theout toadstheir to picklivers through the skin between the amphibian'stheir chestchests and abdominal cavity, picking out the liver, which appears to be a delicacy for crows in the areacavities. InAs a defensive movemechanism, the toads begin to blowenlarged themselves up, which in turn,but due to the hole in the toad'stheir body and thetheir missing liver, led to a rupture oftheir blood vessels and lungs, ruptured and toexpelled the spreading oftheir intestines. The apparent epidemic nature of the phenomenon was also explained by Mutschmann: "Crows are intelligent animals. They learn very quickly how to eat the toads' livers."<ref name=msnbc/>

Mutschmann's theory was dismissed as unlikely by an [[ornithologist]]. The official report filed the incident as lacking a satisfactory explanation.<ref name="NDR">{{cite news|title =Das Rätsel der explodierten Kröten|work =ndr.de|publisher =NDR|date =2015-04-29|url=https://www.ndr.de/geschichte/kroetenteich102_page-2.html|access-date=2023-03-31}}</ref>

Initial theories had included a [[virus|viral]] or [[fungus|fungal]] infection, possibly one also affecting foreign [[horse]]s involved in [[horse racing|racing]] at a nearby track. However, laboratory tests were unable to detect an infectious agent.<ref name=msnbc/>

== See also ==

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* [[Animal-borne bomb attacks]]

* [[Autothysis]]

* [[Blast fishing]]

* [[Cruelty to animals]]

* [[Decline in amphibian populations]]

* [[Exploding whale]]

* [[Military animal#As living bombs|Military animals as living bombs]]

* [[Raining animals]]