Latest fromAnimal Science

DoC seeks help spotting southern right whales
The Department of Conservation (DoC) is on the look-out again for migrating southern right whales and it wants your help.

Aquatic ape theory supporters give idea fresh airing
It is one of the most unusual evolutionary ideas yet proposed: humans are amphibious apes who lost their fur.

Cavalli Islands shakedown dive
Nine scientists are three days in to a two-week marine expedition to the Three Kings Islands and they've already discovered their first new (or previously undescribed) species - seaweeds. This video footage is from their first dive at the Cavalli Islands on the way to the Three Kings. You can follow more of the expedition through their blog http://threekings.aucklandmuseum.com/

Elephant conference in NZ
An international conference on conflict between elephants and humans is set to be held in New Zealand for the first time in May.

Jacqueline Beggs: Dung beetles pose threat to us and our wildlife
Introducing new species is a valuable tool for controlling pests, but although there have been some stunning successes, it can go badly wrong, writes Jacqueline Beggs.

Stink over dung beetles in NZ
At a secret location just north of Auckland, an experiment has started which might alter the face of New Zealand's $12 billion dairy industry.

Rare NZ duck's comeback
New Zealand's threatened species of rare native duck, the whio, is making a comeback after a bumper breeding season.

Shooting fish: A difficult proposition
Gun shots slow down and lose power almost immediately after they enter water - and the shark would need to have been on the surface for hits to be fatal, experts say.

Rare frogs thriving at zoo
A rare type of frog that is critically endangered has, for the first time, been successfully bred at the Auckland Zoo.

Plan to save feared predator debated
Conservationists say our lack of protection measures for sharks is a source of global embarrassment but the industry argues the debate is clouded by emotion.

Immunity grows to repellent
Mosquitos can grow immune to repellent in as quickly as three hours, according to new research.

Benefits of dung beetle release to NZ 'not proven'
The pending introduction of 11 species of dung beetles to New Zealand has been blasted as a potential biosecurity disaster by Auckland University's Dean of Science.

Orphaned penguins in full-time care
Looking after the chicks orphaned by the mysterious deaths of adult yellow-eyed penguins on Otago Peninsula has become a fulltime job.

Penguin deaths 'absolutely devastating'
Bodies of more than 40 endangered yellow-eyed penguins have been found on Otago Peninsula, raising concerns of a repeat "mass mortality" event in 1990.

Sam Judd: Carbon capturing kina
Could it be that the humble sea urchin has come to the rescue? Sam Judd finds that the latest technological breakthrough for waging war on carbon emissions has the spiny sea creatures to thank.

New species of fish discovered in ocean
An expedition to one of the deepest ocean trenches has discovered a new species of fish and another not previously caught in the southwest Pacific.

Odd egg surprises Hawkes Bay family
A Hawkes Bay family got more than they bargained for when they cracked open an unusually large egg laid by their pet chicken recently - another egg.

Emperor penguins preside on Antarctic coast
Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey and the US National Environment Research Council used satellite imagery to discover a massive penguin colony on the Princess Ragnhild Coast in Antarctica.

Photos: Huge new colony
Humans have made first contact with a massive emperor penguin colony in east Antarctica.

GM fish closer to being served up
A genetically modified salmon which grows twice as fast as ordinary fish could become the first GM animal in the world to be declared safe to eat.