While cats are known swimmers, many other unlikely animals can also swim, including ostriches, birds like loons and cormorants, elephants, deer, koalas, kangaroos, and even giraffes. Giraffes were once thought unable to swim due to their long legs, but studies and videos have shown they can swim when needed, albeit not as skillfully as dedicated swimmers.

1. UNLIKELY SWIMMERS We all know that not all cats hate water, but you might be surprised who else they’ve invited to the pool party.

2. As one of the biggest birds in the world, the ostrich isn’t exactly a water ballerina, but they can actually swim – and sometimes fall into pools in Africa. Image Credit: Lip Kee, Flickr

3. Penguins aren’t the only birds who swim beneath the sea. Other birds, like loons, dive into the water to hunt. Cormorants swallow stones to allow them to dive as deep at 80 feet to hunt fish, eels and snakes. Image Credit: Ryan Soma, Flickr

4. Elephants are famous swimmers, ever since the 1994 Coke advertisement that featured them. But it’s still amazing that they can, and love to swim. Image Credit: gorbould, Flickr

5. Deer are less famous swimmers, but they are often seen crossing rivers and lakes. In Staten Island, it’s actually becoming a problem, as deer who swim over from New Jersey to escape habitat loss are quickly chowing down on the native plant species there. Image Credit: Pete Grey, Flickr

6. Koalas don’t really like to swim, but they can if they need to. Like ostriches, they often fall into pools and drown because they can’t get themselves out. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

7. Kangaroos’ long, wonky legs and tiny arms don’t scream “swimmer” but they actually can cross rivers and lakes. They can even swim in the ocean, but they do have to watch out for sharks like everyone else. Image Credit: Beppie K, Flickr

8. Possibly the least likely of the pool party guests is the giraffe. In fact, scientists once thought that the giraffes’ comically long legs made it impossible for them to swim. But never fear, computational analysts were on the job proving that it is, in fact possible! Not to mention it’s been caught on film. Okay, so they’re not Michael Phelps, but they get there when they get there. Image Credit: Josh Moore, Flickr