Latest fromPets & Animals

The Big Read: Whale riders
New Zealand scientists are getting up close and personal with giant humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean. Geoff Cumming explains why.

Remarkable footage of Raoul Island humpback mission
Drone footage of Raoul Island and video by underwater cameraman Steve Hathaway offer a glimpse into the value of the Kermadecs as a convergence zone for species from both temperate and sub-tropical regions.

Salmon dying at Marlborough farm
Salmon are dying in unprecedented numbers, and scientists are working to establish whether bacteria never before found in NZ is to blame.

Foul play in Bird of Year competition
Hundreds of fraudulent votes cast through fake email addresses.

Wellington Zoo celebrates native wildlife
Wellington Zoo is opening a new precinct in time for Labour Weekend described as a "love story to Aotearoa New Zealand".

Cat cafe opening in Auckland
Would you like a cat with your coffee? A feline loving lawyer has plans for mixing moggies with mochas.

Mood for change in Hauraki Gulf
Four years ago the Hauraki Gulf Forum's "State of our Gulf" report warned of widespread decline in the condition of its water and birds and marine life.

Baby orangutan left in box to die
IMAGE WARNING: Images in this article may disturb. Animal rescuers say a tiny ape found in cardboard box is one of the worst cases of neglect they have seen.

Horn of Africa a way out of poverty
1215 rhinos were killed last year.This year, 749 rhinos were known to have been poached.

Gorilla falls in love with litter of tiny kittens
Koko the gorilla is famous for having learned a large number of hand signs from a modified version of American Sign Language.

Dog attack boy still critical
A six-year-old boy viciously attacked by dog this week remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Wallabies in the sights of officials
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council wants people to report seeing the marsupial pests before they can become established.

Kiwi researcher hails whale ban
The decision to ban a US theme and marine park from breeding orca in captivity is a historic move, says New Zealand orca expert Dr Ingrid Visser.

Dog hot on trail of invaders
An excitable puppy turned over to the SPCA has found a new calling in life - as a rainbow skink detector dog.

Great White feeds on seal in Alcatraz
Content warning: It's the first time in known history that a shark attack has occurred in San Francisco bay waters.

Puppy's amazing growth spurt captured
A dog owner documents her German Shepherd's rapid growth over six months.

3 fixes for your fat pet
A third of New Zealand pets are overweight. Since today is Pet Obesity Awareness Day, here are three ways to help curb your pet's waistline.

Dazed and nowhere to call home
Koala was found wandering helplessly through a large development site that she once used to call home before she was rescued.

Himalayan find: 'Walking' fish!
There's a dwarf snakehead fish that lives in the Eastern Himalayas, and it walks upon the earth.

Mayor takes swipe at bark complaints
Dunedin Mayor says: ''It may be the complainants are as vexatious as the dogs.''

Pig organ transplants a step closer
Pig organs could soon be transplanted into human patients after Harvard University scientists found a way to genetically modify pig DNA to be more compatible with humans.

Boy, 6, latest dog attack victim
A 6-year-old Bay of Plenty boy who received life-threatening injuries when he was viciously attacked by a relative's dog is now in a stable condition.

Photo sparks stories of hope for rescued pets
A heartwarming post from popular blog Humans of New York has prompted thousands of followers to share their pet rescue stories.

Mystery cat from Tauranga
How Toffee the cat got from New Zealand to Australia to end up as a stray remains unclear.

10 climate change canaries
It's been called the "Genghis Khan" of the ant world, and for good reason.

NZ dog bowl hits Amazon big time
A Kiwi-designed smart water bowl is proving a big hit in the US pet market.

Fate of dog undecided
Two dogs, from a pack that attacked people in two separate incidents at Whirinaki Beach last Saturday, have been put down.