Wildlife
Saving wild birds at The South Island Wildlife Hospital
A kea with lead poisoning, seven owls and just as many kereru, a baby kingfisher and an underweight spoonbill are among the summer patients at Christchurch's Wildlife Hospital, during its busiest time… Audio, Gallery
Albatross found with plastic bottle in its stomach
The Department of Conservation says a plastic bottle found in the stomach of a southern royal albatross - or toroa - caused its death.
It says the bird was found in an emaciated condition by members… Audio
Ecologist sceptical of petition to bring koalas to NZ
Australia's Environment Minister Sussan Ley says the country's koala population has taken an "extraordinary hit" in the bush fire crisis and they could formally be classified as endangered. Ms Ley… Audio
The people caring for animals affected by Australia's bushfires
Hana Cherry from Animal Rescue Collective shares her firsthand understanding of the confronting reality of the bushfires on wild and domestic animals and how best to help. Audio
Protecting wildlife on the Ashley-Rakahuri river
Lynn Freeman talks to members of the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group, who are working to protect endangered wildlife living on the braided river.
Audio, Gallery
Travel - Nepal Safari in the Chitwan and Bardia National Parks
Nepal rivals India when it comes to wildlife, though it's neighbour has been in the safari business for much longer and has a much bigger profile. Lynn Freeman went on safari in Nepal in August, with… Audio, Gallery
Josephine Fitness and Elise Smith - CatMapping
Glow in the dark collars are proving to be an effective way of helping birds to evade cats. It's one of the findings of the CatMap project in New Plymouth, where GPS units attached to cat harnesses… Audio, Gallery
New Zealand's 50 top birdwatching sites
As the number of wildlife sanctuaries and predator controlled areas increase around New Zealand, thanks largely to the efforts of communities, there are also more opportunities for people to go bird… Audio, Gallery
Fox and rodent battle wins top wildlife photo
A fox and marmot's battle for life snaps up Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019.
NZ votes against new protections for endangered mako sharks
New Zealand has voted against giving new international trade protections to endangered mako sharks at a world wildlife conference.
Wildlife experts from around the world are at the at the conference… Video, Audio
Leadership 'lacking' in new conservation strategy
The government's new action plan for biodiversity involves making the country pest free by 2050, and reducing fishing bycatch of seabirds and marine mammals, to zero. But a conservation ecologist says… Audio
Kākāpō waiting game
The kākāpō health crisis is stable, with no further cases of aspergillosis diagnosed, and seven hand-reared chicks have been successfully released in the wild, in ep 21 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
How hard is it to plant trees for a living? Lisa Owen finds out
Forestry bosses say it's difficult to get and keep workers in what is a physically demanding job, but just how hard is it? Checkpoint host Lisa Owen planted trees for the day to find out. Video, Audio
'Holy grail of moa footprints' discovered in Otago
Moa footprints are being carefully extracted from a rural Otago river, where they were discovered by chance in March. The footprints are believed to be a couple million years old, and the first… Video, Audio
Richmond man admits killing kea at work site
A 46 year-old Richmond man has been convicted for killing a native bird by throwing a wooden builders peg at it and standing on its head.
'Poached': A book on poaching and illegal wildlife trade - Rachel Love Nuwer
The illegal wildlife trade is pushing vulnerable animals to the brink of extinction, but has received comparatively scant attention. US science journalist Rachel Love Nuwer has spent a decade covering… Audio
Jan Wright heads a new conservation effort in the south
Former parliamentary commissioner for the environment, Dr Jan Wright, is involved in a new conservation project. It aims to have the whole of Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park pest and predator-free in the… Audio
Blue light at night, wildlife's blight
What happens to urban wildlife in cities that never sleep?, Dr Therésa Jones from the University of Melbourne's Urban Night Lab talks about the fascinating adaptive behaviour of a range of animals… Audio
Busy Wildlife Hospital wrestles with long term funding
Dunedin's Wildlife Hospital says the issue of its long term funding must be addressed. The Wildlife Hospital, based at Otago Polytechnic is the only facility of its kind in the South Island, and… Audio, Gallery
Window closing on Solomons' environment - Pikacha
A Solomon Islands scientist studying his country's wildlife says the window of opportunity to save their natural habitat is closing fast. Audio