Wild Dogs of Africa

Although their evolutionary path parted ways with those of domestic dogs around three million years ago, Africa's painted dogs are nevertheless eerily similar to their distant cousins in the ways they move and socialize. But their exploits are larger than life by comparison. Hunting in packs, they take down larger prey such as impala, zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck and kudu by their sheer tenacity, persistence and close co-operation, or even brave a skirmish with a pair of crocodiles. There are signs that the African wild dog was once highly regarded by the San community and also in prehistoric Egypt and the oldest fossils go back 200,000 years. The Facebook Group dedicated to the Wild Dogs of Africa take us into their world through the lenses of wildlife photographers and safari tour guides. We also meet their fiercest defenders and advocates, such as Jealous and Edward Mpofu, and catch the dogs themselves in rare moments - such as expressing playful joy at a surprise shower of rain. 

Members: 13.1k, at the time of writing

Trigger warnings: inter-species violence.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Work with ICELANDIC horses in Iceland

Volunteering with horses is a bucket-list activity for many young animal lovers and Iceland has a quaint and magical allure that attracts many visitors. As an ancient breed known for its sturdy resilience and unique fifth gait, Icelandic horses are popular choices for cross-country riding and even certain equestrian sports disciplines. They are gentle, with a rugged, yet endearing appearance. If you are looking for volunteering opportunities that include access to riding and working with horses, you can post your availability and skillset, or browse through the available listings. Even if you're not yet ready to take the plunge for this popular gap year activity, the posts should give you a good idea of what's required and what to expect. 

Members: 26.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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Film Locations - Then and Now

What if I told you that you could trek through Tatooine, in the footsteps of Luke Skywalker? Brush shoulders with the aura of Tony Soprano. Dine at the very same table as Tootsie in the Russian Tea Room. Step into the sandals of Maximus Decimus Meridius from Gladiator in Italy, or the boots of Laura Ingalls, at Big Sky Ranch, California. For the members of this Facebook Group dedicated to sharing movie locations, it's all about recreating iconic and defining moments in pop culture. Occasionally, other famous events are re-immortalized, such as music videos or just a couple of celebrities hanging out. Some settings barely show the passage of half a century or more. Others seem almost disappointingly mundane, without that extra glow of Tinsel Town magic. If you're a film buff, you will enjoy the obscure and not so obscure references and clues. 

Members: 1 million.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Random acts of knitting and crochet kindness

Some of them are deliberately flawed, but non-the-less endearing. They are made from the colorful little balls of yarn found within any knitter's stash. Apparently, they are called Izzy dolls, and you can probably make one in little more than an hour. With a few clever embellishments, you can its bland face into a familiar one - Paddington Bear or Mario. Take your pick. But the whole purpose of this group is not merely to create and post - there is a deeper sharing at play here. These adorable little knitted dolls are created to bring love and joy into the life of the random stranger who finds it and takes it home. Occasionally a grateful recipient shares the find. Take a moment to browse through all the adorable little ambassadors of kindness. You are sure to be inspired. 

Members: 92.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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The Medieval Horse and its Equipment

The horse is such a central figure in popular media depictions of the Middle Ages that most people seldom notice the inaccuracies or misconceptions. For example, fantasy movies would have us believe that every average farm boy with dreams of grandeur just happened to have access to a well-bred Friesian stallion, never mind the fact that destriers were expensive, high-maintenance and exclusively reserved for the elite. There were times when laws prohibited the peasantry from even owning equines above a certain height, or at all. If however, you are interested in scratching beneath the glamor of modern myth to uncover some real facts, this fascinating Facebook group, dedicated to the tack and care of medieval steeds should give you plenty to digest. Posts include period depictions, book references, real artifacts from museums and links to re-enactments. 

Members: 2.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Beatrix Potter Loves

Most people don't know this, but Beatrix Potter, now synonymous with Victorian children's literature, was also a pioneer in terms of creating a brand identity and earning a healthy residual income from merchandising opportunities. What began as a letter to a child, became the iconic Peter Rabbit, a charming creature inspired by one of the author's own pets, Peter Piper. Ms. Potter was also an enthusiastic naturalist and an award-winning sheep farmer, and before you mistake her for a straitlaced prude, there was an anecdote about the time she rewarded one of her animal models with hemp seeds, and inadvertently got him stoned out of his skull. Even now, more than a hundred years later, her creations remain as recognizable and beloved as ever. One need only look at the images found in this Facebook Group, which includes jaw-dropping fan-art alongside beautifully rendered originals. If you love the relatable innocence of small woodland creatures, this one's for you. 

Members: 116.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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The View From My Window

One of the best things of the Internet, in my opinion, is the way it brings the world to you. It's wonderful to be chatting to someone in World of Warcraft, who is on another continent, or find a kindred soul whom you would never have met, had it not been for the World Wide Web or Facebook. This Facebook group uses images shared as a medium of saying hello to someone far away. And it's not necessarily the stunning, touristy scenery that's shared in snapshots - just moments of life, little pieces or local, with a few words that say, in so many ways "Look, I am here!" Take glimpses through windows in Australia, Kenya, Argentina, Chile, Minnesota, USA, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Malta, the UK, Madeira, the Orkney Islands, Norway and Northern Ireland.   You may see newsworthy moments, adorable pets, visiting wildlife, sunsets, water, greenery and snow-capped firs, traffic and laundry, flowers, swimming pools and lawn flamingos, garden gnomes in Germany, visiting kangaroos in Australia, marinas, seascapes and beach views, the vastness of Canada and quaint little gardens and so much more. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy this wonderful collection of crowd-sourced postcards and pictures.

Members: 1.6 million at time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None. 

Go here to visit or join. 

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