Spain police find live snakes, lizards inside checked luggage
Spanish police said Tuesday they found five snakes, two lizards and thousands of insects alive and hidden inside two suitcases that arrived on the holiday island of Gran Canaria on a flight from Madrid.
Circus performers flip over animal ban in Mexico City
About 1,000 clowns, jugglers and animal trainers marched Tuesday against Mexico City's pending ban on circus animals.
Experts want urgent action on rare N.Zealand 'hobbit' dolphin
Marine scientists have urged New Zealand to step up efforts to save the world's rarest dolphin, saying only a few dozen Maui's dolphins remain and immediate action is needed to prevent their extinction.
Spanish zoo vet shoots keeper in gorilla escape drill
A Spanish zoo vet shot a keeper with a tranquillizer dart when a gorilla escape drill went awry, knocking out the unfortunate victim who spent the next three days in hospital.
'Extinct' bat found in Papua New Guinea
A big-eared bat which was thought to be extinct has been found in a forest in Papua New Guinea, highlighting the unique biodiversity of the developing nation, researchers said.
Spider venom may save the bees: study
Venom from one of the world's most poisonous spiders may help save the world's honeybees, providing a biopesticide that kills pests but spares the precious pollinators, a study said.
Tiny 'living fossil' found in New Zealand waters
A microscopic marine creature believed to have been extinct for four million years has been found alive and well in New Zealand waters, researchers said.
Elephants from Canada take up residence in US zoo
Three female Asian elephants took up residence at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington on Friday after a 2,500-mile (4,000-kilometer) road trip from western Canada.
New Zealand's iconic kiwi no Australian immigrant
New Zealand's iconic kiwi is most closely related to the extinct elephant bird of Madagascar rather than the Australian emu as previously thought, researchers said Thursday.
Russian circus crocodile hurt by falling accountant
A crocodile was injured in Russia when an accountant weighing 120 kilogrammes (260 pounds) fell on him during a bus trip through the arctic north, local media reported.
World's oldest sperm found in Australia
The world's oldest and best-preserved sperm, dating back 17 million years, has been unearthed in Australia, scientists said.
Crocodile eats boy in PNG
The limbs of an 11-year-old boy have been found inside a huge crocodile and his head discovered nearby after he was attacked in Papua New Guinea, a report said.
Woman fights python to save pet dog in Hong Kong
A woman used a pocket knife to fight off a huge Burmese python which attacked her dog while out walking in a Hong Kong country park, a report said.
Peru probes killing of endangered penguins
Peruvian authorities announced an investigation Tuesday into the killing of five penguins fund slashed to death at a center for endangered species.
Paleontologists discover land herbivores' earliest ancestor
Paleontologists unearthed the oldest ancestor of land-dwelling herbivores with the discovery of a 300-million-year-old skeleton, shedding light onto plant eaters' emergence on land, a study said.
Be part of Almaty Zoo: take care of one animal
Now everyone can be a part of the Almaty Zoo through either fostering an elephant, lama or any other animal or owning a bench with a custom nameplate on it.
Fish losing survival instinct in acidic oceans: study
Fish are losing their survival instinct -- even becoming attracted to the smell of their predators -- as the world's oceans become more acidic because of climate change, new research.
Taiwanese tourists hurt in Japan deer rampage
Visitors to one of usually-safe Japan's most celebrated spots are being warned to be on the lookout, after two Taiwanese tourists were injured in a rampage by a wild deer.
Bats find shelter at Nazi German defence line in Poland
An awe-inspiring Nazi defence line in western Poland has taken on a new role in peacetime as home to tens of thousands of bats in what is Europe's largest artificial roost.
Cap, goggles found from Australian shark attack victim
The swimming cap and goggles of a woman taken by a shark in Australia have been found along with a small amount of human remains, police said.