Exploding animal: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:59, 11 July 2020

Revision as of 04:45, 17 August 2020

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==Causes of explosions==

Natural explosions can occur for a variety of reasons. [[Post-mortem]] explosions, like that of a [[beached whale|beached]] [[exploding whale|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 Dynasty]] 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|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=12uahIduJj4C&pg=PT38&dq=China%2C%20ox%20bomb%20weapon#v=onepage&q=China,%20ox%20bomb%20weapon}}</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], 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 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>https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/03/exploding_donkey/</ref>

== Examples ==

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===Toads===

According to worldwide media reports 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. These incidents prompted local residents to refer to the area's lake—home to the toads—{{Lang-de|Tümpel des Todes|lit=Pool of Death|label=as}}. The incidents were reported as occurring with greatest frequency between 2 and 3 a.m. Werner Smolnik, [[environmental movement]] worker, stated on April 26, 2005, at least 1,000 toads had died in this manner over a series of a few days.<ref name=msnbc>{{cite news|title =Hungry crows may be behind exploding toads

|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>

Berlin [[Veterinary physician|veterinarian]] Franz Mutschmann collected toad corpses and performed [[necropsy|necropsies]]. He theorised that the phenomenon was linked to a recent influx of predatory [[crow]]s to the area. He stated that the cause was a mixture of crow attacks and the natural puff up defense of the toads. Crows attacked the toads to pick through the skin between the amphibian's chest and abdominal cavity, picking out the liver, which appears to be a delicacy for crows in the area. In a defensive move, the toads begin to blow themselves up, which in turn, due to the hole in the toad's body and the missing liver, led to a rupture of blood vessels and lungs, and to the spreading of 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/>

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/>