Interest pathway
Animal World
Behaviour, intelligence, adaptation, ecosystems and conservation — investigated at a level that respects how much you already know.
Topics in this pathway
Start here
Animal intelligence
Why do octopuses seem so intelligent?
Nine brains, no bones, and a talent for escaping locked tanks.
Food chains and ecosystems
How wolves changed the shape of Yellowstone's rivers
Bring back one predator and even the riverbanks move.
Animal behaviour
Can animals recognise themselves in a mirror?
A dot of paint, a mirror, and one of the oldest arguments in animal science.
Arctic wildlife
How do Arctic animals survive −40°C?
Blubber, counter-current blood flow, and hollow hairs.
Wildlife conservation
Should zoos still exist?
Conservation lifeline or outdated spectacle? Build your case.
Animal communication
Do animals have language, or just signals?
Prairie dogs may describe what you're wearing.
Endangered species
What the endangered species numbers actually say
Read real conservation data without being fooled by it.
Ocean life
Why do humpback whales sing?
A song that can travel for miles underwater — and changes every year.
Insects
How do ants build superhighways without a map?
No leader, no plan — just chemical trails and millions of tiny decisions.
Predators
Inside the cheetah's speed machine
0 to 100 km/h in about three seconds — then it has to stop.
Veterinary science
Inside a wildlife vet's toolkit
Treating a rhino is nothing like treating a hamster.
Marine mammals
Do dolphins call each other by name?
Every bottlenose dolphin invents its own personal whistle — and answers when a friend copies it.
Projects
Design a wildlife sanctuary
Plan a sanctuary for three species: site, enclosures, budget, feeding, staffing and a public information board.
Create an endangered species campaign
Run a persuasive campaign for one endangered species, backed by real data.
Design the perfect zoo enclosure
Balance animal welfare, visitor experience and budget for one species.
Do animals experience emotions?
An investigation using published evidence, ending in a reasoned position.
Track a food web
Map a real habitat's food web and model what happens when one species declines.
Create a wildlife magazine
Four pages: feature article, species profile, infographic and an opinion column.
Build a wildlife database
Design and populate a species database that can answer real questions.