Animals

China's ban on the domestic ivory trade took effect Sunday.

World News

China's Ban On Its Domestic Ivory Trade Takes Effect

11:20am January 01, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

Chinese officials fulfilled a previous pledge banning the domestic sale and processing of ivory within its borders. The ban follows a similar measure implemented by the U.S. in 2016.

Trapped In Barbed Wire, White Owl Now Flies Free

6:38am January 01, 2018

The bird was trapped in barbed wire near the Smithfield prison in Huntingdon, Pa. A state game commission officer used a crate and a net to coax the owl to safety.

Dogs rescued from floodwater wait to be transferred to a shelter after torrential rains pounded Southeast Texas following Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey on Sept. 3, 2017 in Orange, Texas.

No 'Easy Answer' To Growing Number Of Stray Dogs In The U.S., Advocate Says

2:51pm December 29, 2017

by Samantha Raphelson

Author Peter Zheutlin says the number of stray dogs in the U.S. has "cascaded out of control." He makes the case for why people should adopt abandoned dogs.

Two birds covered in oil sit on a rock near Refugio State Beach in Goleta, Calif., in 2015 after an oil spill from an abandoned pipeline spread over the beach. The Department of the Interior says it will no longer criminally prosecute energy companies tha

Accidentally Killing Birds Isn't A Crime, Says Trump Administration

7:03pm December 27, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

A legal memo from the Department of the Interior declares that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act applies only to purposeful actions that kill migratory birds.

Two people swim at a beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico. One of the bays on the island is famous for its bioluminescent plankton, which are slowly recovering after Hurricane Maria.

After Maria, One Of The World's Best Bioluminescent Bays Slowly Begins To Glow Again

11:59am December 27, 2017

Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Vieques, an island 8 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. Its bioluminescent bay, a lifeline for its vital tourism industry, is starting to show signs of recovery.

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New Species Of Turtle Is Discovered In Alabama

11:35am December 26, 2017

Alabama leads the nation in states with the greatest diversity of turtles. Researcher Peter Scott recently discovered another species of the reptile: the intermediate musk turtle.

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Firefighters at the London Zoo on Saturday, where an early morning fire killed at least one animal.

World News

Fire Shutters London Zoo And Kills At Least One Animal

1:53pm December 23, 2017

by Amy Held

One aardvark died and several meerkats were missing after the blaze broke out Saturday. Several members of the zoo staff were treated for smoke inhalation after coming to the rescue of the animals.

Leandro Teixeira and Richard Dubielzig of the University of Wisconsin - Madison open the whale eye package.

All I Want For Christmas Is A Giant Whale Eye

4:34pm December 22, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

A giant whale eye spent decades on a strange journey before it finally arrived at an animal eyeball lab and gave the folks there the "best Christmas ever."

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After a recent fire scare, visiting reindeer Lightning, front, and Holiday were removed from the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Rounding Up Reindeer: Zoo Prepares To Evacuate As Fire Burns Close

5:40pm December 21, 2017

by Stephanie O'Neill

As the massive Thomas Fire burs in California, the Santa Barbara Zoo's elaborate evacuation plan involves 150 species, tranquilizers and maybe even throwing a towel over an alligator's head.

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Studying the penis of a thistle tortoise beetle may lead to a better design for medical catheters.

Beetle Penises May Hold Clues For Better Medical Devices

4:20pm December 20, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Thistle tortoise beetles have enormously long, hooked penises that are rigid in some parts and soft in others. Scientists hope studying the beetle penises could help people design better catheters.