The world's big cats are dangerously close to being driven from existence. A man with a camera lens who is intent on saving these handsome animals brings their story to New Zealand next month.

A former rescue dog, which was once on the edge of death, has been trained as New Zealand's only specialist kauri dieback sniffer dog.

Rising sea levels are likely to prove a "turtle disaster" and people power may be required to ensure their survival, Queensland scientists have found.

Wildlife photographer Steve Winter tells Linda Herrick about cheating death, and the images he wished he didn't have to take.

Roosters crow in order of seniority - the top cock announcing daybreak while juniors patiently wait their turn, a new study revealing a long-guarded secret of chickendom shows.

A curious tiger inspects a camera on wheels as it snaps close-up images of the cat in the wild. Video courtesy National Geographic/Steve Winter

This video shows timelapse images of tigers at a watering hole, bathing and taking sips from the water over a series of days and nights. Video courtesy National Geographic/Steve Winter

Auckland SPCA now has twice as many cats as it usually would - and can't take anymore.

The Alaska Zoo temporarily gained a new animal yesterday after a wild bear strayed into the grounds and made himself at home.

Rescue dogs Kala and Keira were due to be put down at an Atalanta shelter when a heart-wrenching photograph of the lovable pups saved their lives.

The Maori Party has hit back at comments by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry that allowing kereru to be eaten was a bad idea because "Maori ate moa as well".

Auckland Zoo has released some rare underwater footage of their two elephants Burma and Anjalee swimming together. In the footage captured by zookeeper Joel the elephants look almost weightless. Source: NZN Video/Auckland Zoo

The mother of an Australian surfer who survived a close encounter with a great white shark believes her son's dead sibling was watching over him.

Shark attack survivor Darren Mills said watching surfer Mick Fanning's terrifying encounter brought it all back.

Watch: Auckland Zoo's newest arrival Anjalee joins Burma for a quick dip in this stunning underwater footage.

A gym on Auckland's North Shore has been running classes for dog owners and their canine mates since January.

A pig was spotted trotting along an Auckland road earlier this morning.

Ruby would probably not be alive - and certainly wouldn't be mobile - without the assistance of New Zealand Pug Rescue, an off-shoot of the Wellington Pug Dog Club.

A dog callously thrown off a Tauranga bridge in the middle of the night is now up for adoption.

A horse whisperer close to Queen Elizabeth has revealed the monarch told him she did not want any more pups.

SeaWorld are facing another public relations headache with animal rights group Peta claiming an employee posed for years as an animal rights activist.

The person who threatened to contaminate infant formula with 1080 poison doesn’t exist, says Westport anti-1080 activist Pete Lusk.

The black and white cat that was rescued from Grafton cemetery, as instigated by US rocker Ryan Adams, has been named.

It is believed Ridley, as she has become known, was caught in strong currents when the turtle was discovered at Lyall Bay beach on Saturday.

The black and white cat became the object of much interest after American rocker Ryan Adams tweeted a photo of the cat to help find the young kitty a “forever home”.

An endangered sea turtle which is believed to have been caught in strong currents before it was washed up on a Wellington beach on Saturday remains in a critical condition at Wellington Zoo. The endangered olive ridley sea turtle received a full health assessment at The Nest at Wellington Zoo yesterday.

Efforts by an American rocker and Auckland Twitter users to rescue a kitten from poverty and possums are continuing.

Three-quarters were in "ideal condition" but 26 per cent were assessed as overweight, the research published in Veterinary Record found.