Animals

AnimalsAn hour ago

Matt Brumby Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Biathlon/XC Team Launch / Obertilliach AUT Paralympics Australia Thurs 26 February 2026 © Sport the library/Jeff Crow for PA

Paralympic pets set gold standard

Aussies are usually pretty popular around the athletes’ village, but these members of the squad are more sought after than most at Milano Cortina – meet the pooches supporting our Paralympians

First Nations News

KIDS NEWS 2026: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 10 Indigenous Literacy Foundation - Great Book Swap Launch on March 10 , 2026. Picture: supplied/ILF/Joseph Mayers

Great Book Swap takes fresh flight

With the help of a preening pair of red-tailed black cockatoos, Australia’s Children’s Laureate has launched the 2026 Great Book Swap at Taronga Zoo – here’s how your school can get swapping

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Bulldog survives palm seed feast

French bulldog Chunk has lived up to his name, chowing down on so many plump palm seeds in a backyard binge that he needed lifesaving surgery – here’s how this Aussie dog’s drama unfolded

A woman has sparked millions of tears on TikTok over a sad fact about giraffes. Picture: X

Giraffes’ clever solution to rain

What does a giraffe do when a rainstorm strikes? The answer may surprise you. It turns out not every animal is hardwired to seek shelter when the weather turns nasty – find out why

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 01, 2020: Koalas seen cuddling up close at the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney Australia, on SEPTEMBER 01 2020. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

New program matchmaking koalas

A unique koala breeding program aims to improve the endangered status of this beloved marsupial species by working some romantic magic via careful couples matchmaking – here’s how it works

Georges River Council will host the Lunar New Year festival at Hurstville on February 21, 2026.

Giddy up for the Year of the Horse

Join Asian-Australians celebrating Lunar New Year from February 17 as the rare Year of the Fire Horse brings special significance to family traditions and cultural unity – discover what it’s all about

KIDS NEWS. One of the new Fig Parrots at Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria. A handsome bird by the name of Brad Pitta has recently been joined by a bachelor group of Fig Parrots at Healesville Sanctuary. The flock of males set to ruffle the feathers of visitors this ValentineÃ¢â¬â¢s weekend. Thursday, 12 February 2026. Picture: Zoos Victoria

Bachelor birdies buddy up

A handsome group of bachelor birds are winning hearts ahead of Valentine’s Day at one Australian animal sanctuary, with the debonair ‘Brad Pitta’ welcoming his new wingmen. See the video

A baby crocodile was found in the pool at Nitmiluk Camping and Caravan Park on Monday, February 9, 2026, delighting staff. Picture: Facebook/ Nitmiluk Tours

Snappy swimmers take to the pool

Splash-happy Australians got more than they bargained for this week after a crocodile and a shark were both spotted swimming laps in two separate swimming pool incidents. Watch the video

A great white shark was spotted near an Anglesea beach on Monday.

Great white shark a playful puppy?

A great white shark has stunned two Australian fishermen by spending two hours rubbing against their boat, being handfed and even being accepting a pat on the head like an domestic pet

KIDS NEWS. A male giraffe calf born at Sydney Zoo in December is now thriving after being cared for day and night by keepers following a difficult birth. Sydney Zoo has now launched a naming competition to celebrate the new arrival. Picture: Sydney Zoo

Meet Zoo’s hand-raised giraffe calf

Visitors to an Australian zoo have caught a rare glimpse of one of the world’s tallest animals at its very smallest after a baby giraffe was debuted one month after its birth. WATCH THE VIDEO

KIDS NEWS 2025: AI-produced impression of some of Australia's oldest-known mammals from the Tertiary period 55 million years ago. Picture: AI/UNSW/supplied

‘Drop crocs’ roamed Australia

Ancient crocodiles that may have ambushed prey by dropping from trees have been identified through fossilised eggshells found in Queensland, suggesting a prehistoric predator ready to pounce

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New plan for Aussie beach safety

The first phase of a plan to make Australian waters safer and reduce shark risk at our beaches is being rolled out in one state. Learn how sharks can be spotted early and how lives can be saved

A couple of curious wildlife cases have found their way to Healesville Sanctuary wildlife hospital, with not one but two Echidna puggles needing extra TLC., It’s an uncommon sight that has spiked the interest of the veterinary team., The orphaned youngsters were both disturbed in their burrows while people were doing end of year renovations., One was accidentally dug up by an excavator clearing a paddock in Launching Place. The other found under a slab of concrete at a building site near Alexandra., It’s common for female Echidnas to create burrows in random places at this time of year. Often, they will feed the puggles and then go off wandering for a few days at a time, meaning the little ones can be left in the burrow for up to 10 days. Credit Zoos Victoria

Double puggles out of trouble

A couple of curious wildlife cases have found their way to an Australian wildlife hospital, with not one but two echidna puggles now receiving plenty of TLC after their dramatic survival

EXPLAINERScience and Technology

Lucky the rat who is taking part in research in breakthrough dementia research at the Howard Florey Institute. Dr Siew Yeen Chai and Holly Yeatman a research assistant help Lucky through the maze in the lab.

Could Oz end world’s animal labs?

An Australian start-up is using AI to power a game-changing approach to testing new drug treatments that, if successful, could save both human and animal lives. Find out how it works

VIDEONews

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon walk down the aisle after getting married today in Canberra.Photograph by Mike Bowers

PM’s pup Toto totes wedding rings

An Australian love story that started with ‘Up the Rabbitohs!’ reached its happily-ever-after on Saturday, as Anthony Albanese became the first sitting PM to tie the knot – helped along by Toto

KIDS NEWS. Werribee Open Range Zooâs three-year-old elephant Roi-Yim is starting to sprout his tiny tusks, marking the start of an incredible journey to adulthood. Picture: Werribee Open Range Zoo/ Jo Howell

Baby elephant tries out new tusks

Is there anything cuter than a baby elephant? How about a baby elephant who has just started growing tusks? Watch the adorable footage of three-year-old Roi-Yim showing off his pearly whites

NEWS ADV Einstein reunited with owner Sue Image/Russell Millard Photography

Dog’s happy reunion after 49 days

There were many yelps of joy as missing dog Einstein was reunited with his owners after being lost in Australian scrubland for seven weeks. But just how was the beloved pooch found?