Michael James Whitelock, 28, shot one cow in the leg, dumped another cow still alive in an offal pit, and broke the tails of hundreds of others.

As the week-long nationwide survey closed last night, a total 8,743 Kereru were spotted and recorded, topping last year's total 7,101.

From Tongariro, the chick's dad is called "Little Moa", and its sibling is still in the incubation room and getting close to hatching as well.

The 2015/16 kiwi hatching season is officially underway at Rainbow Springs' Kiwi Encounter, with the team welcoming a fluffy new arrival. The chick hatched at 11.20am on Saturday weighing in at 346g. Supplied: Rainbow Springs

His species are the ultimate survivors, the solitary legacy of an order of reptiles that thrived in the age of the dinosaur. But one tuatara needed a little extra help.

A farmer says he was powerless to stop a man who cut the teats off of around 20 of his milking cows.

They call him Braveheart - and it's a name he wears every bit of.

An animal rights advocate wants to live in a Miami bathtub for four weeks to protest an orca's captivity.

Experts believe a sharp rise in seals coming ashore around New Zealand's coastline is a sign of their gradual recovery from human hunting in the past.

The torture of cattle and horses for entertainment at New Zealand rodeos has entered its sunset years, writes Lynn Charlton.

The BirdLife Marine Programme’s work to reduce seabird bycatch in high seas fisheries will be familiar to followers of our efforts to save several albatross species from extinction. Source: Birdlife International/YouTube www.birdlife.org/marine

A minke whale that beached itself on an Auckland beach yesterday does not appear to have re-stranded today.

Auckland teen Libby Christophers is on a mission to save an at-risk dolphin. She is only 15 and the receiver of the International Young Eco-Hero Award.

A video posted by explore.org, a multimedia wing of the philanthropic Annenberg Foundation dedicated to documenting wildlife, shows belugas approaching a boat while a cellist on board plays The Beatles. The scene was captured by explore.org's Beluga Boat Cam, a project that broadcasts beluga sightings underwater and on deck. Source: explore.org /Facebook

This baby rhino was spotted cuddling up to a car after poachers killed his mother in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

A Michigan police officer had a close encounter, when he tried to help a baby skunk with its head trapped in an empty yoghurt container. This footage shows Officer Taylor jumping to escape the skunk's spray, but as Rochester Police explained in their post, "baby skunks can't spray like adults," so he escaped unharmed. Source: Rochester Police/Facebook

Despite the initial reports, there are hopes Jericho is still alive after the team tracking his GPS said news of his death was 'utter sensationalism'.

People angered by the killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe are being urged to donate to efforts to save Africa's dwindling population of the big cats, and some animal-rights activists are pushing for African countries to stop trophy hunting.

It is believed Ridley, as she has become known, was caught in strong currents. Normally found in tropical waters, she was suffering from hypothermia, shell damage and dehydration. A recent scan revealed clear lungs and no internal damage or blockages. Zoo veterinary manager Dr Lisa Argilla was pleased with the results.

Rising sea levels are likely to prove a "turtle disaster" and people power may be required to ensure their survival, Queensland scientists have found.

Rescue dogs Kala and Keira were due to be put down at an Atalanta shelter when a heart-wrenching photograph of the lovable pups saved their lives.

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES. Woman rescues skin and bones dog that was hidden in bush area.

Auckland Zoo has released some rare underwater footage of their two elephants Burma and Anjalee swimming together. In the footage captured by zookeeper Joel the elephants look almost weightless. Source: NZN Video/Auckland Zoo

Ruby would probably not be alive - and certainly wouldn't be mobile - without the assistance of New Zealand Pug Rescue, an off-shoot of the Wellington Pug Dog Club.

A dog callously thrown off a Tauranga bridge in the middle of the night is now up for adoption.

SeaWorld are facing another public relations headache with animal rights group Peta claiming an employee posed for years as an animal rights activist.

An endangered sea turtle which is believed to have been caught in strong currents before it was washed up on a Wellington beach on Saturday remains in a critical condition at Wellington Zoo. The endangered olive ridley sea turtle received a full health assessment at The Nest at Wellington Zoo yesterday.

This year’s Cook Strait Whale Survey counted 137 humpback whales, its highest tally in its 12 years and an encouraging indication their numbers are increasing in New Zealand. The annual four-week Department of Conservation survey, which ended on July 11, also broke its record for the highest number of humpbacks seen in a day with 27 spotted on Sunday June 21.

Animal rights advocates have condemned a ''disturbing'' rise in the number of forced animal drownings this year.