Animals

A sea lion expert says the actions of a man trying to fight off a sea lion with a bodyboard only made the animal more excited.

A video posted online shows the bodyboarder backing away from the animal… Audio

New Zealand is the seabird capital of the world! We also have more than twice as many threatened species of seabirds than any other country. Our seabirds are more threatened than our land birds and… Audio

This DOC threatened species ambassador Nic Toki wants people to be able to enjoy and appreciate the nature - but maybe not love it too much. This week's critter is one that people might also want to… Audio, Gallery

Controversy is never far away even in animal stories, none more than in the Bird of the Year award competition for 2021.

That's right a bat won. Audio

We also had some yucky stories, probably not a great idea at breakfast time but we received more text feedback on this story that any other.

Rat-catcher and the director of Ace Pest Control in… Audio

We heard all about packs of wild boars wandering the streets of Barcelona.

Wild boar expert Carles Conejeroa spoke to Susie Ferguson. On top of that in September we did a story about endangered old… Audio

In September there was a story about toilet training young cows.

Professor Lindsay Matthews from University of Auckland shared his success with us. Audio

In September we came very close to fat shaming bears.

The "Fat Bear Week" tournament is held every year in Alaska and Susie Ferguson spoke to Katmai Conservancy spokesperson Sara Wolman. Audio

We've done lots of animal stories this year, a fair few were out there.

In July we spoke to University of Greenwich lecturer in insect behaviour Sarah Arnold about bees who like coffee. Audio

They're not quite wild horses, but Ōpōtiki has a problem with less-than-tame horses roaming freely in and around the town.

Earlier this year, the District Council mooted banning horses from the town… Audio

Trampers who plan to walk the Rakiura Track on Stewart Island this summer are being offered the option of a refund as the battle against bed bugs continues.

The bugs reached infestation levels last… Audio

Swimmers are being urged to be particularly careful thanks to a flurry of white-shark sightings in the Bay of Plenty.

The Department of Conservation says reports of great whites have been on the rise… Audio

Scientists say they have discovered the largest-ever fossil of a giant millipede on a beach in Northumberland in England, totally by chance.

The millipede, known as Arthropleura, is thought to have… Audio

Michelle Le Long talks to Karyn about the festive season hazards to be aware of. Audio

About this time every year there's a music chart battle between Christmas songbirds for the top album or single.

But in Australia some actual birds are knocking other music artists off their perch… Video, Audio

Police warn there's been a spike in the people selling puppies that do not actually exist - usually through online trading sites and fake webpages.

The dogs go for thousands and buyers are pushed to… Audio

Salps are gender-fluid, translucent jelly-beans which band together to form long chains, travelling the oceans in a gelatinous tunic! The world's largest salp is called the Twin-sailed Salp and was… Audio

Putting down the shears and rolling up their sleeves was the goal for some shearing gangs on the east coast as they vyed for the top prize for most vaccinated gang.

The initiative run by Turanga… Audio

The world's first true millipede with more than a thousand legs has been discovered deep in a Western Australian mine.

The critter, named after the Greek goddess of the underworld, now reigns supreme… Audio

Several penguin chicks are homeless after torrential rain swept away their nesting boxes in Canterbury.

According to the Pohatu Bay Penguins Facebook page staff frantically rescued as many of the… Audio