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==

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===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&q=China%2C+ox+bomb+weapon&pg=PT38}}</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 ''[[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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===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 [[blasting 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 ===

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===Toads===

In 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—as {{Lang-Langx|de|Tümpel des Todes|lit=Pool of Death|label=none}}.{{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 that at least 1,000 toads had died in this manner over the span 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 =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|access-date=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]], and hypothesized that the phenomenon was linked to a recent influx of predatory [[crow]]s to the area. According to his theory, crows attacked the toads and picked out their livers through the skin between their chests and abdominal cavities. As a defensive mechanism, the toads enlarged themselves, but due to the hole in their body and their missing liver, their blood vessels and lungs ruptured and expelled their intestines.<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>

== See also ==

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* [[Autothysis]]

* [[Blast fishing]]

* [[Cruelty to animals]]

* [[Decline in amphibian populations]]

* [[Exploding whale]]

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

* [[Raining animals]]