Animals
The reason birdsong is so varied and what birds meme
Why do no two bird songs sound the same? Evolution, a birdsong expert says, and their songs might be warning challenges or advertising for a mate. Audio
Shower Thoughts: Why do birds all sound different?
University of Auckland professor of biological sciences and birdsong expert Dianne Brunton joins Emile Donovan to answer the question of Ingrid in Gisborne. Audio
Conservation win: kiwi heard in Upper Hutt hills
A major conservation win is being celebrated in Upper Hutt where acoustic recorders set up in the hills have picked up the call of two kiwi. It's believed the birds have headed north from Wainuiomata… Audio
Rare whale found on Otago beach
A five-metre-long whale so rare that only six specimens have ever been seen by scientists has washed ashore on an Otago beach. What's believed to be the remains of a spade-toothed whale, one of the… Audio
The Science of Dog Hair
Anyone who lives with a dog, also lives with their hair - on their clothes, couch and every possible surface. It's about time we understand the science behind their coats and how to care for them… Audio
How to raise a good dog: Tips from the stars of The Dog House NZ
Helen and Gavin Cook, who run an animal rescue centre north of Auckland, are the stars of TVNZ's hit show The Dog House NZ. In the new book Good Dogs, the English-born couple share advice from their… Audio
Critter of the Week
This week's critter is large and hairy and grows in the remote and inclement Subantarctic Islands. Audio
The Pre-Panel for 12 July 2024
Today on the Pre-Panel, Wallace Chapman previews tonight's show and producer Sam Hollis joins to discuss a man who tried to smuggle snakes through customs. Audio
Custom-made trailer takes giraffe down SH1
It's a road trip unlike any other. This week Jibali the giraffe was loaded into a custom-made five metre tall trailer and driven down state highway one from Auckland Zoo to his new home in Hamilton… Audio
Due to cost of living crisis, SPCA sees more neglected animals
The SPCA says the cost of living crisis is also hitting animals hard - reporter Leonard Powell speaks with vet nurse Ange Beddoes. Audio
Update on Oz with Brad Foster
Brad Foster brings us up to speed on the tragic death of three children in a house fire in Sydney's west over the weekend, and reports on a zoo in Brisbane that has banned visitors from holding… Audio
Critter of the Week: the grey side-gilled sea slug
The grey side-gilled sea slug (Pleurobranchaea maculata) might look unassuming, but it holds the title of Aotearoa's New Zealand's most toxic creature. Audio
Australian sanctuary ends koala cuddling after guest feedback
A popular koala sanctuary in Queensland is no longer allowing visitors to cuddle its koalas. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane says it's ended its koala holding attraction after "increasingly… Audio
The world through squid eyes
We might think deep-sea squid look a bit strange, but if they have the capacity for it, they would likely consider us monsters! Claire speaks to a squidologist and a PhD candidate about their research… Audio
Our Changing World – Squid vision
What does the world look like to a deep-sea squid? Audio
The cat conundrum in making NZ Predator Free, new research
One of the trickiest but most significant predators that many conservation organisations deal with is cats. Predator Free NZ carried out an independent study public perceptions relating to cats and… Audio
Rare fernbird spotted at Taupo Swamp after restoration
An elusive songbird has been photographed at the Taupo Swamp near Plimmerton, north of Wellington, for the first time. The fernbird or matata was first spotted in the wetland last year, but hasn't… Audio
The ethics of teaching children about predator control in New Zealand
Pest control can be a particularly tricky topic to tackle in a New Zealand classroom. Dr Sally Birdsall joins Emile Donovan to share how educators frame ethical issues around caring for species. Audio
Every Little Thing film wins big at Doc Edge festival
We might not have humming birds in New Zealand but those tiny birds have led to a number of awards being given to kiwi film maker Sally Aitken. Jesse talks to her about the film Every Little Thing. Audio
Expert Feature: Training detector dogs, can any dog do it?
Humanity's had a very long love affair with the working dog. Janet Williams is the person to answer that and other questions about sniffer dogs. She has 13 years working in MPI selecting, breeding… Audio
