Latest fromPets & Animals

Kids should get slimed - BBC presenter
BBC wildlife presenter Chris Packham says it's good for kids to get "stung, slimed, slithered on and scratched."

Croc blamed in plane crash
An inquest in Gloucester has heard how a plane crash that killed a British pilot in the Congo may have been caused by passengers panicking over an escaped crocodile.

Last-ditch bid to stop shark cull
Scientists and conservationists are making a last-ditch effort to block the West Australian Government's plan to extend its controversial shark cull for three years.

The problem with pet shops
"Essentially any plonker can open a pet shop and be responsible for the wellbeing and future of vulnerable animals," writes Sally Hibbard.

Wingspan of the largest bird in history revealed
The largest flying bird in history had a 24 feet wingspan - more than twice that of the biggest living albatross - and dined on fish probably caught in mid-flight over the open ocean, a study has found.

Boy dragged to death by polar bear
An Eton schoolboy was dragged from his tent by a rampaging polar bear and killed after his Arctic expedition was under-equipped with anti-bear safety measures.

Ask Phoebe: What owners get for their annual dog licence fees
What exactly does Auckland Council use dog registration fees for?

Blue whale washes up
A dead whale that has washed on to the shore of Taranaki is thought to weigh about 100 tonnes and is unlikely to be moved from its final resting spot.

Protest frenzy frees beloved Boxer
Hastings District Council has freed a Boxer X called 'Dougie' after receiving hundreds of messages protesting him being seized by Animal Control.

Speeding rider killed dog, abused owner
A speeding motorcyclist who fatally hit a fox-terrier puppy on Haumoana Beach has been called "dark" and "ugly" by the dog's owner.

Moa a goer? 10 extinct animals
The moa were driven to extinction due to human activities - over-hunting and habitat destruction. Here are 10 other animals mankind has wiped out.

Fury over cheerleader's hunt
Kendall Jones, 19, has provoked worldwide fury after posting pictures of herself smiling next to animals she hunted, including a lion, rhinoceros, leopard, elephant and zebra.

Talk to the Animals: Do you know where your fish came from?
Eating responsibly from the sea means to be informed of the issues surrounding the fishing industry and using our collective consumer power to make a difference.

Cunliffe mows down Mallard's moa plan
David Cunliffe says Trevor Mallard's plan to resurrect and reintroduce the moa to Lower Hutt is "not going to fly".

Woman charged with arson after trying to kill spider
Arachnophobes take note: a woman has been arrested on an arson charge after she tried to kill a spider with fire.

Feeling the heat, movin' south
Crocodiles, cane toads and the mosquito-borne dengue virus may start cropping up in more southerly regions of Australia as the tropics expand due to climate change.

Storms bring rare avian visitors
A bird rescue centre is caring for six giant petrels after concerned members of the public found the birds in distress.

Cat spends 10 days up palm tree
There was a purrfect ending yesterday for a wayward cat stuck up a palm tree in a suburban garden for 10 days and nights.

Swiss zoo kills bear cub rejected by its jealous father
A Swiss zoo which caused a public outcry by euthanising a healthy baby brown bear because it was being bullied by its father has said the cub will now be preserved and displayed to educate schoolchildren.