The move to grant an orang-utan in Argentina some legal rights enjoyed by humans could open the floodgates to thousands of similar cases.

A newly discovered beetle has been named after television naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

There are aliens living amongst us, not little green men but foreign animal species from ecosystems far away, writes Sally Hibbard.

An Argentine court has granted "habeas corpus" to a female orangutan at the Buenos Aires Zoo and recognised basic rights for her as a "non-human individual" to live in semi-freedom with other large primates.

A rare native bird has been released back into the wild a month on from a stormy rescue by a Hamilton police officer.

An Auckland woman who kept 50 cats living in disgusting conditions with serious infections and ailments has been sentenced for her neglect.

The firefighter who rescued a kitten trapped in the dashboard of a Tauranga car has been described as the "finest cat whisperer".

Tears have flowed at a Mosgiel kindergarten the week before Christmas after thieves stole two guinea pigs, beloved pets for five years.

A far north Queensland community is grieving the death of an 18-year-old man who was attacked by a shark in front of shocked friends.

For those who didn’t know, Zooey Deschanel is an enthusiastic equestrian, who has competed in numerous competitions.

Losing a pet can be tough for both the animal and its owner, so the SPCA is once again pushing the importance of having pets micro-chipped.

A man whose dog was chased by police, pepper sprayed and unlawfully shot dead has received an official apology.

From potential taxes on sugary drinks to the ancestry of our kiwi, science has offered plenty of headlines this year.

Filming for Pirates of the Caribbean 5 could be delayed, all thanks to a bit of monkey business in Australian quarantine.

The most popular kitten names for 2014 have been revealed - with Bella and Oliver topping the list of most-loved feline monikers once again.

1. When did you first see Jaws?

Perth beachgoers are being urged to take extra care after a spate of shark sightings.

With a relentless look of malevolence Grumpy Cat is not exactly cute. But her owner believes she's "unstoppable".

It is the sound synonymous with the start of a new day.

Bridget Foxx-Parr discovers that giving an unwanted cat a second chance has unforeseen benefits.

Owning a pet is a two-way relationship. They give people pleasure during the good times, but you have to take care of them when they fall ill.

They say Christmas is all about the children, however if it happens that your 'children' are of the furry variety that's no reason to leave them off Santa's list.

A pair of nesting rare birds has forced an Auckland museum to move a live action event in order to protect the endangered chicks.

Justin Bieber is reported to have "abandoned" his third pet, an adorable puppy called Karma.

Tails are wagging across the country as New Zealand's first treat delivery service for dogs is unleashed.

If you are worried that your dog is not paying attention to what you are saying, simply look at where is he is staring.

A loyal dog has shown up every day for two years at a Siberian hospital where her master passed away.

A giant ancient penguin far taller than any species alive today has been described for the first time after its fossil remains sat for decades inside an Auckland storage shed.