For centuries, unicorns were seen as magical creatures of legends, but did you know a “real unicorn” swims in the Arctic Ocean? Meet the narwhal, often called the unicorn of the sea. Unlike the mythical horse with wings, this whale sports a long spiral tusk that can stretch up to 10 feet! Surprisingly, it’s not a horn at all but an overgrown tooth that grows through the male narwhal’s upper lip.

In medieval Europe, these tusks were once sold as genuine unicorn horns. Royal families paid enormous sums, believing they had mystical powers like detecting poison or curing illness. Little did they know, they were simply buying narwhal teeth from the icy seas.

Today, scientists believe the tusk helps narwhals sense changes in temperature and pressure - and perhaps even attract mates. These mysterious creatures live in pods across Greenland, Canada, and Russia, diving more than 1,500 metres deep into frozen waters.

Sadly, climate change and human activities are threatening their existence. Narwhals, however, remain a symbol of nature’s secrets, reminding us that reality can be even more magical than myth.