Interesting Facts - Page 132

The Irish Elk was a type of deer that went extinct around 7,700 years ago. These animals had the largest antlers of any known deer, weighing up to 40 kg with a span of over 3.5 meters. Their ridiculously large antlers may have developed because female elk chose their mates based on antler size. But, in the end, it contributed to the extinction of the species. Irish Elk couldn't easily flee human hunters, and they needed more calories to support their showy, but largely useless racks.

Switzerland is so neutral it didn't join the United Nations until 2002.

Chimpanzees were thought to be quite peaceful until they were observed in the wild by Jane Goodall. In 1974, she observed "The Gombe Chimpanzee War", a four year conflict in which chimpanzees from one tribe killed all the male chimpanzees from another tribe and took their territory.

Many people believe that bonobos (a close relative of chimpanzees) are peaceful creatures. This is not true. Both bonobos and chimpanzees exhibit physical aggression at a rate 100 times greater than modern humans.

Giant pandas were unknown outside of China until 1869.