Animals & Pets News

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Tuesday asked his visiting Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd to rein in activists disrupting Japan's annual whale hunt, describing their actions as "sabotage." Full Story »

HONOLULU - New and dramatic species of coral and sponges have been found in the Pacific during deep sea dives near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, scientists said Monday. Full Story »

GRANTS Pass, Ore. - A conservation group is threatening to go to court if the Obama administration doesn't start making progress on a backlog of endangered species listings. Full Story »

BEIJING - Genome mapping showing that pandas may prefer a bamboo-based diet because they can't taste meat could unlock secrets to ensuring the survival of the endangered species. Full Story »

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Climate change threatens the survival of dozens of animal species from the emperor penguin to Australian koalas, according to a report released Monday at the UN climate summit. Full Story »

ADELAIDE, Australia - Australian and Chinese officials urged two bamboo-munching giant pandas on Sunday to consider reproducing during their 10-year residency Down Under. Full Story »

BEIJING (AFP) - A detailed genome map of the giant panda completed by Chinese scientists has shown that the notoriously shy animal is genetically similar to the dog, state media reported Sunday. Full Story »

ATLANTA - The National Zoo in Washington is getting its new director from Zoo Atlanta. Full Story »

SYDNEY - Australia's prime minister threatened legal action against Japan on Friday if it does not stop its research whaling program that kills up to 1,000 whales a year. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Friday threatened Japan with legal action if it fails to stop hunting whales, ahead of a visit to the country. Full Story »

GENEVA (AFP) - The clean energy technology sector will grow into a 1.6 trillion-euro (2.4 trillion-dollar) industry by 2020, becoming the third largest industrial sector after automobiles and electronics, WWF said Friday. Full Story »

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon Humane Society on Tuesday sent a team to rescue as many as 100 dogs living without shelter in cold weather on rural property in Eastern Oregon. Full Story »

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - A Malaysian woman has been arrested for keeping endangered animals including a leopard cat, a honey bear and a slow loris as pets in her apartment, reports said Tuesday. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - A space-age powerboat which holds the round-the-world record sped off from Australia on Tuesday on a mission to harass Japanese whaling ships in Antarctic seas. Full Story »

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian police have charged two stars of British reality TV show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here" with animal cruelty after an RSPCA complaint over an episode that involved killing and cooking a rat. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - Militant protesters opposed to Japanese whaling left for the Southern Ocean Monday as New Zealand, Australia and The Netherlands urged them to avoid violent confrontations. Full Story »

SINGAPORE (AFP) - Singapore Zoo has successfully bred the highly-endangered Komodo dragon, officials said on Monday, reporting that the rare baby reptile was in good health. Full Story »

MADRID (AFP) - Activists displayed the carcasses of about 100 foxes, rabbits, minks, lambs, chickens and pigs in central Madrid Sunday in a protest against the treatment of animals. Full Story »