Animal news, with the source on every story
The latest animal news from around the world: wildlife, pets, oceans and conservation, in full, with the source named and a link to the original.
Ocean life
Atomic fallout helps reveal histories of stranded whales
Scientists examining growth layers in teeth from five stranded cetaceans have discovered new clues about their lifespans, diets, and habitats.
Phys.org · · 2 min read
Wild mammals
Carcass feeding brings wild habits to captive lions
An Australian study finds that serving whole animal carcasses on a feast and fast routine prompts zoo lions to mirror wild behavioral cycles.
ScienceDaily · · 2 min read
Wild mammals
Australian newsreader remembered for wildlife rescue work
Tributes for the late broadcaster Richard Morecroft highlight his dedication to nursing an orphaned flying fox pup while anchoring television bulletins.
The Guardian · · 1 min read
Birds
Scientists examine dead seabirds after River Tyne spill
Necropsies at a marine laboratory explore whether birds ingested plastic nurdles that spilled following a vessel collision at the Port of Tyne.
BBC News · · 1 min read
Insects and pollinators
Butterfly beauty shapes scientific and conservation focus
A study reveals that colourful butterflies receive more research and funding while duller, threatened species are frequently overlooked.
The Guardian · · 1 min read
Wild mammals
UK youth breed harvest mice at home for release
A project led by teenagers invites children in Devon to raise captive harvest mice to help rebuild wild populations facing steep decline across Britain.
The Guardian · · 1 min read
Wild mammals
Primate study challenges assumptions on violence
An analysis of one hundred primate species indicates routine disputes and deadly aggression evolved along separate biological pathways.
ScienceDaily · · 1 min read
Ocean life
Early animals may have arisen earlier than thought
Oxford researchers find that animals might have emerged between 800 and 700 million years ago, challenging previous timeline limits.
ScienceDaily · · 2 min read
Reptiles and amphibians
New crocodile species found in the Sphinx’s limestone
Fossils recovered a century ago from the rock used to build the Great Sphinx belong to a long-snouted crocodile species new to science, researchers say.
Mongabay · · 1 min read
Ocean life
Cold triggers mortal aging in freshwater polyp
A study reveals how cold temperatures induce sexual reproduction, metabolic shifts, and aging in an otherwise immortal hydra species.
Phys.org · · 1 min read
Insects and pollinators
Cellular shape changes speed up insect vision
Microscopic structural shifts in sensory cells work alongside body motion to help insect nervous systems process visual cues with minimal delay.
Phys.org · · 1 min read
Insects and pollinators
Honey bee hives act like single animals, study suggests
A fresh analysis comparing bee colonies to mammalian superorganisms suggests conventional apiary practices may disrupt their natural lifecycles.
Phys.org · · 1 min read
Ocean life
Giant sea spiders produce blue light in the deep ocean
Researchers have confirmed that two species of deep-sea spiders off the Australian coast generate their own blue glow using leg tissue.
Phys.org · · 2 min read
Birds
Egyptian geese spread parasites and eat crops
A multi-year study reveals how invasive Egyptian geese feed on agricultural fields and carry multiple parasites that could affect domestic poultry.
Phys.org · · 1 min read
Ocean life
A kelp nursery in Clayoquot Sound restores Canada’s coast
A nursery run with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation has planted more than 4,200 square metres of new kelp habitat since early 2026 off Vancouver Island.
Mongabay · · 1 min read
Ocean life
Warming seas threaten fish food supply
Rising marine temperatures are altering microscopic plankton communities, threatening to leave fish populations with less nourishing prey.
Phys.org · · 1 min read
Birds
Nest boxes help Hong Kong’s yellow-crested cockatoos
Conservationists are fitting nest boxes in city trees for Hong Kong’s feral yellow-crested cockatoos, about 10% of the species’ wild population.
Mongabay · · 1 min read
Wild mammals
Indonesian rhinos face severe extinction crisis
Both Sumatran and Javan rhino species now have populations under fifty animals, leaving them facing acute extinction threats across Indonesia.
Phys.org · · 1 min read