Latest Animals stories and videos

Teenager Scott Vineer, who was beaten and left for dead in Lisburn last year, has been reunited with the dog handler who found him after a vicious attack.

One of the rarest wildlife species in Northern Ireland, the pine marten, may be facing extinction in the Mourne Mountains of Co Down.

Belfast Zoo has a new arrival, with the birth of a chimpanzee.

A dog has died after being struck by a car in Lisburn, Co Antrim.

A flock of sheep, led by Dame Mary Peters stopped traffic in Belfast city centre on Sunday.

Farmers, who battled to save their stock during last month's Spring Blizzard, have been hit with a fresh crisis.

More than 1,000 dog owners gathered in Portrush on Sunday to protest against proposals banning dogs from the West Strand.

Four rhino heads and eight horns, estimated to be worth €500,000, have been stolen from the National Museum Archives in Co Dublin.

Two sheep have been found alive under a 12ft snow drift by a farmer in Co Antrim, almost four weeks after a Spring Blizzard left livestock stranded across Northern Ireland's hillsides.

The family of 14-year-old Jade Lomas-Anderson, who was mauled to death by four dogs, are calling for the law to be changed so action can be taken against owners over attacks on private property.

More than 17,500 animal carcasses have been retrieved from farms across Northern Ireland, which were hit by the heavy snowfall and high winds last month.

Over 8,000 carcasses of animals, which died in the recent heavy snow, have been collected from farms across Northern Ireland.

Staff at Belfast Zoo are hard at work to repair the damage caused by heavy snow and winds ahead of its reopening on Friday.

The removal of animal carcasses from areas worst affected by the Spring blizzard began on Tuesday.

A Californian sea lion has become the first non-human mammal to convince experts she can actually keep a beat, bopping along to hits like her favourite Boogie Wonderland.

Belfast Zoo has confirmed it will remain closed during the Easter holidays due to damage caused by the heavy snowfall.

Animals at Belfast Zoo have also been affected by the severe spring weather, as snowfall of up two feet has kept the facility closed since last Friday.

A stranded dolphin has been saved from dying in shallow waters off the Co Kerry coast, after a rescue operation by locals and a volunteer lifeboat crew.

There is increasing pressure on the Agriculture Minister to help farmers who have been affected by extreme snow and winds, as thousands of animals are feared dead and access to many more is still restricted.

Farmers have told UTV they fear tens of thousands of animals may have died as a result of the heavy snowfall across Northern Ireland.

A leading charity for donkeys has issued a plea for help at its centre near Belfast, where it provides therapeutic riding sessions to local children.

A Welshman who wrestled with a shark in Australia, to stop it reaching youngsters paddling nearby, has been sacked by trustees of the children's charity he founded - because he was on sick leave at the time.

A Belfast dog who was abandoned as a pup has won the first ever 'Scruffts' non-pedigree competition to take place at Crufts, the world's biggest dog show.

The preening must have started early for the fashion-forward pooches heading to Crufts, with this year's hopefuls immaculately turned out in the latest wet-weather gear for their arrivals.

The investigation into an attack on a dog, which saw the family pet doused in petrol and set alight, is said to be nearly complete - with the findings set to go to the Public Prosecution Service soon.

A little boy diagnosed with an extremely rare, incurable condition which affects his muscles has found a very special friend for life to help him cope with his condition - a huge three-pawed dog adopted by his family.

Keepers at Belfast Zoo are jumping for joy following the birth of a critically endangered crowned sifaka.

As a crackdown is launched against dog fouling in west Belfast, owners are being warned that not cleaning up after their pet will result in an £80 on-the-spot fine.

A Newry-based company which has found itself embroiled in the ongoing horsemeat crisis has told UTV the scandal could shut them down.

Horsemeat has been found at a cold food store in Northern Ireland, the NI Food Standards Agency has said.

A baby pig born without the use of his hind legs has shown his determination by getting around his home with the help of a wheelchair.

Burger King have apologised to customers after horse DNA was found in burgers provided by their Irish supplier.

Some Shetland ponies are stealing the limelight as Scotland's 'mane' attraction, by posing in their winter woollies to promote the country's natural beauty.

A malnourished seal pup who was rescued from a Co Antrim beach is preparing to return to the wild, after he was nursed back to health.

Dogs have been rescued from a house near Beragh in Co Tyrone.