The first stage of Auckland Zoo's multi-million-dollar 10-year redevelopment plan will be completed this year with the opening of two new exhibits and the introduction of more zoo babies.

A morning spent exploring the Reptile Park at Ti Point is like being in a life-sized, reptile-themed game of "Where's Wally?".

A shark washed up on a Napier beach gave locals a rare close encounter.

Bronze whaler caused concern at Coromandel's Whiritoa Beach.

Christopher Tomlin started as a volunteer in December last year. He had just moved to Auckland from Britain and was looking to do something different.

Felix the cat is looking for a loving home in which to spend his twilight years.

SPCA Auckland had more than 2500 volunteers last year, and here's why some of them do it.

A giant squid made its way into Japan's Toyama Bay on Christmas Eve, treating onlookers to a rare sighting of the magnificent creature.

One in five pet owners say they don't have a limit on what they would pay for a major operation before considering euthanising their beloved animal.

This year, SPCA Auckland took in 11,000 animals - and of the 82 received in the past few days, 71 of those were kittens.

Every day over summer, the SPCA Auckland responds to about a dozen calls regarding dogs locked in cars that are quickly overheating.

A koala was feeling a little thirsty after being rescued from a bushfire in southern Australia

A shark has been filmed swimming and cavorting in the shallows at Papamoa beach

Women will place more value on how a potential mate interacts with their pet than will single men.

A sleigh-full of presents isn't the only special delivery to roll in this festive season, as the South Island's West Coast welcomes a rare kiwi.

Eight ducklings were rescued by the fire service after getting trapped down a drain.

Heartwarming images from an international photo competition of children with animals.

Furry surfers of all shapes and sizes have grabbed their boards and hit the beach to take part in the annual Surf City Surf Dog Competition.

Humans haven't seen a living short-nosed sea snake in 15 years, but there they were, two such snakes swimming along in the waters of Western Australia.

What's your initial reaction: "That's adorable" or "The person who did this needs to be locked up"?

Temba, a male chimp at Wellington Zoo, died on Saturday night after a fight with the alpha male of the group.

A close-up snap of a blue shark has been posted online after its apparent capture in the Bay of Plenty.

River could not contain her excitement when her new owner's mother arrived at Tauranga SPCA to collect the 3-month-old adopted pup.

Everyone knows they're out there, but how well do you know your sharks? Niwa looks at four of the most common sharks you're likely to spot this summer.

In the years since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Alaa Aljaleel has become his hometown's unofficial feline caretaker.

A dog sparked a fight between two women on a beach which led to the alleged attacker facing criminal charges.

A woman has been prosecuted after a dog she was supposed to look after suffered "pain and distress" for 10 weeks, the SPCA said today.

Pandas don't want no scrubs. They have a higher success rate of having cubs if they are coupled with a bear they love.

It's a bad time of year to be a turkey. But one bird was determined not to be a Christmas dinner and escaped from his farm three times in a week.

AMAZING PHOTO: Whatever you do, don't open that door!