A second sea lion has died in just over a month at Napier's Marineland when 22-year-old Makea failed to recover from a general anaesthetic on Friday.

A dolphin and its calf which were stranded on a Hawkes Bay reef as they fled from hunting orca have been saved by holidaymakers.

White tail spiders come out in search of food during warm summer weather, and their numbers are up, according to some pest controllers.

Children watched as an out-of-work social worker threw his flatmate's cat under the tyres of passing cars to kill it.

It's hard to take a big dog on an international sports tour - but easier to take him on holiday.

Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey and the US National Environment Research Council used satellite imagery to discover a massive penguin colony on the Princess Ragnhild Coast in Antarctica.

Humans have made first contact with a massive emperor penguin colony in east Antarctica.

Those responsible for shooting five domesticated goats, one of which took five days to die, are being warned by police.

Seven penguin chicks are the newest residents at Kelly Tarlton's aquarium thanks to a world-class breeding programme.

It's irritatingly hot and the kids are crowding the nest in summer. It's time to give a few of them the boot.

Visitors to the Bay of Islands were treated to a show they won't forget when a whale frolicked and leapt from the sea in front of their boat for at least 15 minutes.

A record haul of man-eating saltwater crocodiles was removed from waterways in the Top End of Australia last year, confirming that numbers of the feared reptiles are ballooning.

The majority of New Zealanders do not want recreational drugs tested on animals, a Herald-DigiPoll survey reveals.

More than 360 impounded dogs were killed this year despite being suitable for adoption.

Wanganui SPCA staff rescued a dog which they say was having a fit and near death due to being trapped in a hot vehicle.

The idea was barking mad, but that didn't stop three New Zealand rescue dogs from becoming some of the most publicised pooches in the world.

A genetically modified salmon which grows twice as fast as ordinary fish could become the first GM animal in the world to be declared safe to eat.

Liz Holdcroft says the 19 years she's spent at the SPCA have been bittersweet - she's loved and cared for many animals.

Intrepid Fiordland penguin Katrina could be home for Christmas, says the Australian animal sanctuary boss who nursed her back to health.

Monty, Porter and Ginny have already turned heads around the world after video of them driving a modified Mini went viral on the internet. Now the man who spearheaded the training to put the dogs behind the wheel is considering their next challenge.

A distraught dog owner who watched in horror as her pet choked to death on a hard rubber ball hopes safety measures will prevent similar accidents.