Top 5 "viral" animals in New Zealand

photo / supplied

It’s been a big – and sad – month for animal news in Aotearoa, with Thomas the infamously blind, bisexual goose being laid to rest in Waikanae’s Waimanu Lagoons just last month. It isn’t the first time an animal has captured national attention. Here are five other viral celebrities from the animal kingdom who have stolen the hearts of New Zealand in their own special ways.

Dexter the Tux Wonder Dog, 2000
Remember the Tux Wonder Dogs? While presented and produced by dog-mad Mark Leishman, golden Labrador Dexter was without doubt the star of the show. From 1993 until his untimely death in 2000, Kiwis all around the country enjoyed Dexter's antics, game-playing and genuine adoration for his owner.

Shrek the sheep, 2004
When an unshorn merino sheep was discovered at Bendigo Station, Central Otago in 2004, nobody knew just how big a celebrity he would become. In what seemed like an overnight turn of events, the woolly mammoth-esque sheep would later visit Parliament and was even shorn live on Holmes. Two years later, he was even shipped out to an iceberg off the coast of Dunedin, where he was treated to a shearing once again. Sadly, in 2011, Shrek's story came to an end – he was euthanised at 16 years old.

The stranded cows of Kaikoura, 2016
When a tragic earthquake hit Kaikoura in 2016, it wasn't just the plight of the many humans affected by the quake that caught our attention. When three cows appeared stranded on a small island of green, surrounded by earthquake devastation, on the TV news, they quickly became a viral sensation. Luckily, it was a happy ending – they were rescued and returned to a happy life of grazing.

Paddles the Prime Minister's cat, 2017
Second only to the news of the new PM at the end of 2017 was news of her long-time pet cat, Paddles, passing away in November. "To anyone who has ever lost a pet," said Jacinda Ardern at the time, "you'll know how sad we feel."

Nigel the lonely gannet, 2018
Since 2013 Nigel the gannet was the unofficial ambassador of Mana island, off the Kāpiti Coast, where he lived surrounded by fake birds. Lured to the island by wildlife officials hoping to establish a gannet colony, Nigel's effort was valiant but unfortunately fruitless. When Nigel – whose nickname was 'no mates' – died in early 2018, the nation came to a standstill. Never again will we take a lonely gannet for granted. Vale, young Nigel. Vale.