Big things are set to roar in to the spotlight on stage at the Bruce Mason Centre, writes Dionne Christian.

Watch: A group of fishermen in the US were forced to share their catch after a massive shark leapt out of the water for a bite of the fish they had hooked.

Sassy the miniature horse brings Northlanders happiness where ever she trots.

New findings could explain why failures in the control of bed bug infestations are so common.

Some owners will attest that their pet is as placid as any canine breed can be, but that is not saying very much. Many an owner of a normally docile dog knows it is not completely reliable.

Animal rights group says octopus whose escape made headlines around the world was probably going crazy in its tank.

The Duchess of Cambridge is delighted by orphan elephants in India.

Professor believes those who keep canine killers deserve to face manslaughter count.

Inky's done a runner - and his escape involved remarkable ingenuity, lots of thinking and a tunnel of course.

Calls are being made to ban pitbulls following a recent attack, but some owners of the breed think say it's the owner not the dog.

Dogs will be allowed to have the last splash at Memorial Pool before the complex closes its doors for the winter season.

Compared to dogs, cats get a bad rap when it comes to friendliness and approachability. Many a dog lover will try to tell you cats just aren't as loveable.

Children at a South Auckland hospital enjoyed a morning of pet therapy, spending time with cuddly new friends.

What were these kiwi up to one sunny Stewart Island day? We're not exactly sure. One thing we do know - they're out past bedtime.

Caged Chicken Farms - and Auckland's skyline.

WATCH: They don't look like much, but these tiny trap-jaw spiders found only in NZ and southern South America are the Beauden Barretts of the arachnid world.

This is how bad rhinoceros poaching has gotten in Africa: Increasingly, people who want to prevent the animals' extinction are relying on airlifts to save them.

Warning: Content may disturb. Animal advocacy activists have released shocking undercover footage from a colony egg farm that shows dead hens rotting in their cages and dying hens trapped beneath perches.

The creature was fatally shot in Florida, after terrorising cattle on a farm.

A 38-year-old chimpanzee at Wellington Zoo has died after a battle with heart disease.

Watch: Police in San Francisco locked down a busy bridge to pursue a tiny dog who was on the run.

Longest living resident at Wellington zoo dies.

The owners of a dog which died on Friday are wondering if their pooch has fallen victim to an unknown illness that killed another dog and affected three others last month.

National Geographic has started an ambitious project to document all 12,000 species in captivity - many of which are endangered.

Just metres away, a giraffe spreads its front legs wide and lowers its long neck for a drink.

Most dogs love water but some love it more than others (and are better swimmers). Here's our list of pooches that love a splash:

Westport residents are outraged a local fisherman allegedly dumped a sizeable dead stingray at North Beach earlier this week.