Research shows chimpanzees solve puzzles for fun. “This strongly suggests they get similar feelings of satisfaction to humans who often complete brain-games for a feel-good reward.”

Rats Scratch and Sniff landmine detection. “In Mozambique we eat rats,” joked the director of Mozambique’s national demining institute, “so it was very strange to see them working and demining. We were thinking to grill them.”  But as the gigantic rodents (bigger than New York City sewer rats) stuffed into tiny harnesses began to sweep back and forth on ropes between their human handlers, stopping every so often to scratch and point out a landmine, it didn’t take long for the crowd to be convinced.”  THE PICTURES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE A MUST-SEE. They’re awful, not grapic, just awful.

Don’t just blame cats: Dogs disrupt wildlife, too. “A new study finds that domestic dogs are also killers and disease-spreaders that can pose conservation problems when they’re allowed to roam free outdoors.”  Allowed to roam free, you know- like they began doing millions of years ago.

The latest in Horse-Gate: Horse Meat Found in Ikea’s Meatballs.  In other news, cow meat is found in burgers everywhere, all over the globe.

Walmart’s Animal Welfare Policy Among Worst For Major Companies: Report.  I’m sure you’re all as shocked as I am.  Further, if the animal is destined to be killed, should we celebrate when companies treat them “better” beforehand?

Photo credit: jamesjyu via Flickr