Animals

In The Digital Age, Connecticut State Police K-9 Unit Trains Edogs

7:02am May 09, 2016

by Patrick Skahill

For years police have used dogs like German Shepherds to sniff out things a human officer might miss. As more evidence goes digital, officers are training K-9s to sniff out clues there, too.

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Ringling Elephants Retire To Florida For Cancer Research

8:08am May 08, 2016

by Crystal Chavez

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus no longer uses elephants in its shows. The animals are heading for retirement in Florida. But their work isn't done yet.

Geophysicists announced this week that they have successfully collected key samples from the site of the asteroid strike that likely wiped out the dinosaurs.

Geologists Find Clues In Crater Left By Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid

7:05pm May 06, 2016

by Geoff Brumfiel

Scientists drilling beneath the Gulf of Mexico have hit the layer deposited when an asteroid the size of Staten Island, N.Y., hit Earth. Samples might contain details from that fateful day.

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African bush elephants on Fothergill Island, Zimbabwe.

World News

Facing Drought, Zimbabwe Says It Is Selling Off Wild Animals

1:41pm May 04, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

A government minister said the proceeds will be used "to buy food and secure water facilities for distressed animals." Zimbabwe is famous for parks full of animals such as elephants and lions.

National

Ringling Brothers Officially Retires Circus Elephants

6:13pm May 02, 2016

by Arun Rath

On Sunday night, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus featured elephants for the last time. The circus elephants are retiring to Florida.

For the last time, elephants were used in a performance by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus last night. The circus elephants are seen here during a show last month in Washington, D.C.

Ringling Bros. Circus Holds Final Shows Featuring Elephants

11:13am May 02, 2016

by Bill Chappell

In the world of animal rights, one activist compares it to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The original plan called for phasing out elephants' role in the circus by 2018.

A former circus lion peers from inside a cage during their arrival at OR Tambo International airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday.

World News

PHOTOS: 33 Rescued Circus Lions Airlifted From Peru To South Africa

2:39pm May 01, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

The organizers are calling it the "largest airlift of lions in history." The animals were rescued from circuses after Colombia and Peru banned the use of wild animals in circuses.

National

A 60,000-Pound Problem

5:36pm April 30, 2016

What do you do when a 43-foot dead whale washes up on your beach? The National Marine Fisheries Service's Justin Viezbicke explains the options: tow it to sea, bury it, or cut it up.

A Kenya Wildlife Services ranger stands guard in front illegal stockpiles of burning elephant tusks at the Nairobi National Park on April 30, 2016.

Environment

Up In Flames: Kenya Burns More Than 100 Tons Of Ivory

1:54pm April 30, 2016

by Gregory Warner

Nearly 30 years ago, Kenya burned 12 tons of ivory to try to halt the illegal ivory trade. Today it's burning 100 tons. How much difference does burning ivory make?

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When dogs show the whites of their eyes in a "half-moon" shape it can indicate stress.

Science

Let's Not Hug It Out With Our Dogs

8:22am April 30, 2016

by NPR Staff

Your dog doesn't like your hugs. Psychologist and author Stanley Coren says that when he looked at a random sample of pictures showing people hugging dogs, most of the dogs showed signs of stress.