TIL that in 1930, the US government released 600 beavers in Oregon to combat soil erosion. On average, each beaver cost $5 but performed the equivalent of $300 in erosion control.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environm…
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TIL, the kings daughters were the approximately 800 young French women who immigrated to Quebec from 1665-1673 to marry French colonists and lead to the birth of French children in the colony. Today 10m+ French Canadians exist, most of whom are descendants of these 800 women.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s…
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French women emigrants to North America 1663 to 1673, recruited by Louis XIV

^{Contributors to Wikimedia projects (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.)}

TIL researchers compared 100+ rewilded sites in Scotland to neighboring non-rewilded land. Bird species were up 261%. Breeding territories up 546%. Bumblebees and butterflies increased tenfold. One ecologist said: "The results are astonishingly clear."

scotlandbigpicture.com/press-r…
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Rewilding delivers dramatic wildlife recovery across Scotland

New research from sites across the Northwoods Rewilding Network shows that rewilding has led to dramatic increases in biodiversity.

^{www.scotlandbigpicture.com}

TIL the subsequent fires that broke out in San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake, destroying 80% of the city, was due not only to ruptured gas lines, but also because people were firing their own buildings after realizing insurance wouldn’t cover damages from an earthquake.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_San…
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TIL SCIENTISTS CONFIRM THAT TREES COMMUNICATE THROUGH SOUND AND FORESTS ARE HAVING CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS HUMANS CANNOT HEAR

biotechniques.com/plant-climat…
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TIL The Proboscis Monkey is also Named "Dutch Monkey" by Indonesians when Dutch Colonist Arrived due to the Monkeys Resemblence of Red Face, Large Nose and Big potbelly

borneoadventure.com/blog/2018/…
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Proboscis Monkey – Facts, Photos & Video

The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is one of the most unusual looking monkeys in the world. This reddish-orange monkey is named after its huge pendulous nose.

^{Wayne Tarman (Borneo Adventure)}

TIL that in 2024, a wild orangutan was observed chewing medicinal plant leaves and applying the paste to a facial wound - the first time any wild animal was seen treating a wound with a plant known to have healing properties. The wound healed completely within a week with no infection.

nature.com/articles/s41598-024…
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Active self-treatment of a facial wound with a biologically active plant by a male Sumatran orangutan - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - Active self-treatment of a facial wound with a biologically active plant by a male Sumatran orangutan

^Nature

TIL that the smartest breed, the Border Collie, can learn a new command in under 5 repetitions and can follow it at least 95% of the time

weenect.com/uk/en/guide/most-i…
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TIL that in 2015, 30% of Republican primary voters said in a poll that they support bombing Agrabah, the fictional country from Aladdin.

theguardian.com/us-news/2015/d…
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TIL that even though the Minions from the “Despicable Me” franchise speak a fictional language, they are still re-dubbed for each language the films are released in so that their speech patterns are recognizable to the audience.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minions_…
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