The Weekly Nut: Fun Animal Facts That’ll Blow Your Mind

Let’s be honest-when it comes to waste, we humans tend to turn up our noses. But in the wild world of nature, animal poop isn’t just something to avoid stepping in…it’s an unsung hero, a multi-tasking miracle, and yes, even a luxury commodity. And here at SpiritHoods, we like to think that we understand the animal kingdom pretty darn well. Which means that everything I'm about to share with you, makes perfect sense to us. So keep reading, because I'm about to share some fun animal facts. And remember what's one man's waste is another man's treasure...or...well you get the picture. 

For centuries, cultures around the world have found clever ways to repurpose what most would flush and forget. From ancient healing practices to modern eco-innovation, dung has quietly been doing the dirty work-fertilizing crops, healing wounds, building homes, and now? Making cameos in your coffee mug and skin cream. It’s the comeback tour no one asked for but somehow can’t look away from.

So today, we’re celebrating poop in all its glory. A noble, natural resource that’s changing industries and saving species-one turd at a time. If you’re still reading, congrats: you’re officially part of the very elite "nutty but curious" club. So put on your ultra cozy Spirithoods luxury robe or wrap yourself in one of our comfy men's faux fur coats and let’s dive into the magical, bizarre, and surprisingly beautiful world of animal dung. You may never look at your morning routine the same way again.

Yes, there are people, lots of them, who will happily spend hundreds of dollars for a cup of coffee that’s been pooped out by an animal. And no, this isn’t a prank. It's our fun animal fact number one!

Kopi Luwak, made from beans digested by civet cats in Indonesia, became a global sensation after being featured on shows like Oprah and The Bucket List. The cats eat ripe coffee cherries, but its body only digests the fruity pulp, not the bean. As the beans pass through the civet’s digestive tract, they undergo fermentation and chemical transformation that’s said to reduce bitterness and create a smoother taste. Once the droppings are collected (yes, there are actual jobs for this), the beans are washed, dried, and roasted-ready for your bougie brunch.

Then there’s Black Ivory Coffee- our fun animal fact number two! This delicious hot drink is made using Thai elephants. The process is similar, but instead of a tree-dwelling cat, your beans take a ride through a 10,000-pound herbivore. Because elephants digest slowly, the fermentation time is longer, producing what’s claimed to be the “smoothest, earthiest” coffee on the market with a less acidic flavor. It's also one of the rarest and most expensive coffees in the world, fetching up to $2,000 per kilogram. That’s right, a cup of joe can run you upwards of $500 per pound. 

So if your Monday morning brew doesn’t have a backstory involving a jungle trek and a very large digestive tract, are you even trying?

We’ve all heard the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle”-but elephants, pandas, and even moose are turning that into a literal lifestyle. Fun animal fact number three...their dung is now being transformed into eco-friendly paper, providing a sustainable alternative to cutting down trees.

Here’s the science: These animals consume massive amounts of fibrous plants, but their digestive systems aren’t great at breaking down all that cellulose. The result? Their poop is packed with undigested fiber-perfect for turning into pulp. Once sanitized and boiled (to the great relief of the paper-making team), the fiber is mixed with other natural materials like banana peels or hay to create paper for notebooks, greeting cards, business packaging, wrapping paper, and even wedding invitations.

In Sri Lanka, companies like Maximus Elephant Dung Paper have made a thriving business out of it. They work alongside elephant sanctuaries, providing jobs and promoting conservation through crap. You can now buy beautiful, artisanal stationery that not only saves trees but supports wildlife. Sustainable and sentimental? That’s a win-win for Mother Earth and your pen pal.

So the next time someone compliments your notebook, you can proudly say, “Thanks-it used to be inside a moose.”

Turns out poop isn’t just a smelly byproduct- it’s a genetic goldmine. It’s the ultimate undercover agent in conservation science and it's our fun animal fact number four! Researchers are now using dung to unlock crucial information about endangered animals-without needing to trap, dart, or stress them out.

Animal feces contain a treasure trove of biological data, including DNA, hormones, stress markers, and dietary clues. Scientists can extract this information to track migration patterns, reproductive cycles, and overall health-essential for protecting dwindling populations. For example, analyzing gorilla dung in the Congo helped researchers understand their family groups and movements without ever disturbing the animals.

Even better? This poop-powered approach is non-invasive, cheap, and highly effective, especially for elusive or dangerous species. It’s also being used in developing assisted reproduction technologies. Yes, scientists can collect genetic material from dung to help with artificial insemination and embryo transfers or gene mapping, increasing genetic diversity among captive or threatened wildlife populations.

So yes-poop is literally helping save the planet. The animal kingdom is out here multitasking while we’re still trying to figure out where we left our AirPods. Talk about a powerful #2.

Who needs cement when you have a cow? In many rural regions across Africa and Asia, dried cow dung has been a primary construction material for centuries-and not just for its availability.

Which brings me to fun animal fact number 5!

When mixed with straw, clay, or mud, cow dung becomes an excellent natural insulator that keeps homes cool in hot climates and warm in colder seasons. It’s also resistant to insects and bacteria, making it a hygienic choice in areas where pest control is difficult. In India, some homes even use cow dung paint or plaster for added antibacterial properties and natural insect repellency.

And it’s not just old-school tradition. Architects and eco-builders are now looking at dung as a low-impact, sustainable material for modern construction. Some experimental housing projects in Kenya and Bangladesh have used it to create eco-homes that are both affordable and climate-resilient.

So next time someone says their house is “eco-friendly,” ask them if it’s truly been blessed by a cow’s backside.

Welcome to the wild world of poop-based beauty. While it may sound like a gag gift gone wrong, dung has a long history in traditional medicine and skincare.

In Ayurvedic medicine, cow dung is considered sacred and has been used for centuries to detoxify the body, treat wounds, and purify the air. And yes, folks, this is fun animal fact number six! Poop facials. In modern times, researchers are looking into dung-derived enzymes-particularly from elephants-for their probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help with skin conditions like eczema or acne.

Some brands in Asia are even experimenting with cow dung face masks and medicinal soaps that tout antimicrobial benefits and natural healing. (Don’t worry-they’re sterilized, refined, and processed far beyond anything resembling its original form.)

And before you laugh too hard-remember, snail slime is a popular skincare ingredient, and bird poop facials were a legit celebrity trend for a minute. So really, dung is just joining the line-up of weird-but-effective beauty treatments.

Ready for your Jungle Glow Renewal Facial™? It’s exfoliation with a side of excrement.

What’s clear is that dung is doing double duty (sometimes triple duty) in more industries than you’d expect. It’s fertilizing crops, fueling innovation, and in some cases, financing small businesses. As it turns out, the circle of life really is...a circle.

From coffee to construction, stationery to species survival, poop is proving it’s more than just a punchline. It’s a resourceful, renewable, and ridiculously versatile gift from nature-a reminder that waste is only waste if we waste it.

Across the globe, innovators are turning something once dismissed as disgusting into something useful, profitable, and even beautiful. So maybe it’s time we stop flushing potential down the toilet and start seeing our world a little more like nature does: nothing is wasted, and everything has a purpose.

Alright, you nutty weirdos, that’s enough sh*t talk for one week. Hope you enjoyed this deep dive into nature’s most underrated masterpiece-and remember, every poop has a purpose.

After reading about all these highly questionable dung-based innovations, Nutasha has decided to launch an Etsy shop featuring handcrafted, squirrel-approved, sh*t-inspired potions. Supposedly, she’s been collecting the magical remnants of my infamous bathroom sagas, bottling them up, and marketing them as “Organic Woodland Elixirs.”

Her top sellers so far are:

• The Squirrel Squat Smoothie (please don’t ask)
  

• The Fermented Acorn Flush (now banned in three states)

Stay wild, stay nutty, and for the love of all things sacred-flush responsibly.

Your friend Squirrel,
The Feces-Focused Furball