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Animals

Animals
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Animals. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A photo of a young snow leopard in the mountains of Ladakh, India, by Sascha Fonseca, who won the “Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022” People’s Choice Award, given by London’s Natural History Museum. Photo: Instagram/sascha.fonseca
Photography

Want to take good animal photos? Expert wildlife photographers share tips

Whether you’re a beginner using a smartphone to snap your pet at home or a nature pro with a proper camera, these tips will make you better.

Pets

Should I get a second dog? Experts on what to consider before deciding

Israel

Crowds swam with sharks off Israel’s coast – then a man disappeared

Conservation

Asian elephant calf is born at Zurich Zoo – his name will start with letter Z

Swiss zoo breeds the critically endangered elephants as part of conservation efforts under the European Endangered Species Programme.

An Asian elephant calf stands with his mother, Farha, the day after he was born, at Zurich Zoo in Switzerland on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE
India

India’s elephant warning system tackles deadly conflict

Community trackers in Chhattisgarh hunt for signs of elephants to feed into an alert system for nearby villagers.

Americas and the Caribbean

Pupy the elephant arrives at Brazil sanctuary after 30 years in Argentine zoo

The 35-year-old African elephant arrived ‘in perfect health’ and will remain in an outdoor shed while she begins to adapt to her new home.

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Japan

Japan makes it easier for hunters to shoot bears as attacks surge

The revised wildlife law allows emergency bear shootings in populated areas, enabling quicker responses amid rising animal sightings.

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A bear climbs a tree on the premises of a temple in Morioka, Japan’s Iwate prefecture, on April 2. Photo: Kyodo
Japan

Oh, deer: Japan’s Nara boosts police patrols to curb animal abuse

The move follows a video of a tourist in Nara’s main park kicking one of the animals, considered sacred in the ancient city.

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Science

‘So beautiful’: colossal squid caught on camera for first time in the deep sea

The animal, a juvenile, was spotted at a depth of 600 metres; the animals can reach up to 7 metres long when fully grown.

The Philippines

‘Fly high, Riley’: Philippine eaglet dies 3 months after birth

Riley’s ‘unassisted natural hatching’ was hailed as a win for the Philippines’ efforts in protecting its natural heritage.

Riley the Philippine eagle chick. Photo: Philippine Eagle Foundation
Trending in China

Chinese zoo slammed for putting clothes on baby chimp, braiding its hair

Visitors ‘disinfected’ before being allowed to hold, touch baby chimpanzee, experts warn treatment could harm its mental health.

A zoo in China has been criticised for dressing a baby chimp up like a little girl and braiding the animal’s hair. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Hong Kong society

Runaway emu gets ‘princess’ treatment at Hong Kong animal shelter

Charity House of Joy and Mercy says it plans to let the public view its ‘pampered’ new resident Miu Miu.

Africa

African conservationists aim to change mindsets about unpopular vultures

Vultures are nature’s ‘best sanitation services’, and are estimated to worth US$1.8 billion a year to certain ecosystems in southern Africa.

Medicine

Pig kidney removed from US woman after record-setting 4 months

Towana Looney’s body eventually rejected the animal organ, but previous recipients of such transplants did not survive past two months.

Towana Looney, a pig kidney transplant recipient, gets a morning check-up with Jeffrey Stern at NYU Langone Health in New York in January. Photo: AP
Germany

‘Ant-agonistic’: aggressive ants threaten Germany’s infrastructure

The ants – in colonies with hundreds of thousands to millions of individuals – have also been noticed elsewhere in Europe, including France.

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Ants crawl along the kerb of a street. An aggressive ant species is spreading ever further north in Germany and threatening to take down power and internet connections. Photo: dpa
Food and Drinks

Foie gras without cruel force-feeding but tastes the same? Scientists do it

A research team says its alternative foie-gras-like pâté made without painful force-feeding is indistinguishable from the regular product.

Trending in China

Ex-China athlete raises buffalo in China rental home, keeps it secret from landlord

‘Adorable’ four-month old black calf called ‘Bull Demon King’ is washed in bathroom, only moos when hungry, rarely disturbs neighbours.

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Hong Kong society

Stiffer Hong Kong penalties helping to fight illegal wildlife trade: authorities

Number of smuggling cases involving ivory, pangolin scales and rhino horn has ‘dropped significantly’ since 2021, government says.

Pangolin scales and elephant tusks seized in Hong Kong back in 2019. Photo: Winson Wong
Indonesia

Rats and rubbish mar Indonesia’s vision of a futuristic new capital

Indonesia’s US$32 billion dream of a green new capital at Nusantara is facing an early challenge: a surge in rats fuelled by tourist trash.

Malaysia

Viral dashcam footage captures roadside panther attack in Malaysia

‘I keep having nightmares’, said the 54-year-old father of two who warded off the big cat using a water bottle.

Trending in China

China court auctions 100 tonnes of live crocodiles for US$550,000, no delivery

Enormous reptile sale sparks much amusement on social media after China’s ‘Crocodile God’ defaults, court liquidates ‘scary’ assets.

A court in China is auctioning off 100 tonnes of live crocodiles at a starting price of US$550,000, sparking much amusement online. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
Cambodia

‘Hardworking’ rat sniffs out world record for detecting landmines in Cambodia

Ronin, an African pouched rat, set a world by detecting 109 landmines in Cambodia.

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A landmine-hunting rat in Cambodia has set a new world record by sniffing out more than 100 mines and pieces of unexploded ordnance. Photo: AFP/Apopo
Music

How ‘cheap trick’ helps monkeys yodel better than humans

Human yodellers can switch up and down an octave, but monkeys have a 3½-octave range. Researchers have just discovered why that is.

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Thailand

Amid tragedy, rescue dogs offer hope to Bangkok earthquake victims’ families

Rescuers have brought in 11 dogs to search for signs of life and to provide emotional support for victims’ loved ones.

Wellness

Meet the Irish farmer using alpacas for animal therapy for the elderly

With their ‘huge brown eyes’, camelid therapy animals ease anxiety among nursing home residents and those with special needs, farmer says.

Joe Phelan feeds some of his herd on his alpaca farm near Dublin, Ireland. Photo: Reuters
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police suspect cruelty after 2 cats allegedly fall from height, 1 dead

Force says it received report early on Friday from security guard at Tin Heng Estate in Tin Shui Wai.

A blurred picture of one of the cats suspected to have been dropped from height at an estate in Tin Shui Wai. Photo: Handout
Crime in Hong Kong

Snakes in the mail: Hong Kong police probe parcel with 10 reptiles for Australia

Logistics company alerted police after discovering lizards and snakes inside package during X-ray.

Japan

There’s a rat in my soup! Dead rodent hurts Japan restaurant chain’s stock price

Zensho Holdings, which operates the Sukiya chain, saw its shares fall as much as 7.1 per cent after it revealed the grisly discovery.

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