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Article snippet: The animal kingdom is full of wondrous, wild and weird stories. So it’s no surprise that animals made headlines across the globe in 2017 for rare, odd and heroic episodes. Here is a look at some of the stories that captured our readers’ attention. A pair of spectral animals roamed the plains of Garissa County near the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy in Kenya’s east. The animals, rare white giraffes, inspired awe across the world after the Hirola Conservation Program posted a video of them. Abdullahi H. Ali, who founded Hirola, said it was the first known video of white giraffes. The giraffes displayed the characteristics of a genetic condition known as leucism, which inhibits pigmentation in skin cells, Dr. Ali said. A Belgian Malinois that was badly injured by shrapnel in Afghanistan was awarded the Dickin Medal, Britain’s highest award for animal bravery, in November. The dog, Mali, was recognized for helping to sniff out Taliban militants and booby traps during a mission by Afghan and British Special Forces in 2012. The Dickin Medal has been awarded 69 times since it was established in 1943. Its recipients include 32 pigeons — G.I. Joe among them — 32 dogs, four horses and one cat. Snakes have always been a part of life in Bangkok. They lurk in toilets, swim in flooded streets and slither into people’s homes. In 2017, the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, which is responsible for removing snakes from homes, was busier than ever. It received more than 31,800 cal... Link to the full article to read more