The Columbian

Pets & Wildlife

Zsa Zsa, an English bulldog owned by Megan Brainard, stands onstage June 23 after being announced the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. The 9-year-old dog has since died.

World’s ugliest dog dies weeks after taking title

July 11, 2018, 8:11pm Life

A 9-year-old English bulldog has died just weeks after winning the 2018 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. Read story

In this Monday, July 9, 2018, photo provided by the Northern Territory Department of Tourism and Culture, a large crocodile is captured in a trap near Katherine, Australia. Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife said in a statement on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, it had trapped the 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) reptile only 30 kilometers (19 miles) downstream from Katherine Gorge, a major tourist attraction outside the Northern Territory town of Katherine.

After decadelong hunt, 1,300-pound crocodile captured

July 11, 2018, 8:07pm Life

Following a nearly decadelong hunt, a massive saltwater crocodile has been captured in northern Australia, according to wildlife authorities. Read story

An unnamed southern white rhino calf is seen after birth Monday at the North Carolina Zoo. The female was born to mother Linda and father Stormy and weighed 80 to 90 pounds.

N.C. zoo greets rare southern white rhino

July 6, 2018, 5:57pm Nation & World

The zookeepers just didn’t think Stormy the male rhinoceros had it in him. Now, they owe him an apology. Read story

Orca calf found beached in Ocean Shores

July 6, 2018, 9:46am Northwest

A killer whale calf washed ashore July 1 at Ocean Shores, according to Jessie Huggins, stranding coordinator with the Cascadia Research Collective. Read story

Officers help venomous snake cross the road

July 6, 2018, 6:03am Pets & Wildlife

A venomous snake needed to get to the other side of the road in Virginia, so police helped it along by stopping traffic at a busy intersection. Read story

A Cooper’s hawk (identified by Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Service, which is caring for it) standing on one leg as it’s transferred to Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Service on June 19.

Hawk rescued by family, police after dropping from sky

July 6, 2018, 6:00am Life

A young red-shouldered hawk had a lucky crash recently that left him floating in a swimming pool unscathed, then rescued by a resident and a police officer. Read story

Amelia Milling is seen June 19 with a 7-year-old Alaskan husky named Nanook that is credited with helping rescue her when she was injured while hiking a trail in the Chugach State Park east of Anchorage, Alaska. She says the dog found her after she tumbled down a slope.

Husky comes to the aid of injured hiker

July 6, 2018, 5:41am Life

A 7-year-old Alaskan husky is credited with helping rescue an injured woman hiking a trail east of Anchorage, Alaska. Read story

Francesca, a 26-year-old pygmy hippopotamus makes her first appearance at the Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma City since moving from the San Diego Zoo. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden announced the hippo’s death Wednesday and said caretakers examined Francesca last week after she showed signs of illness.

Pygmy hippopotamus Francesca dies at Oklahoma City Zoo

July 5, 2018, 10:17am Life

Francesca, a female pygmy hippo that “I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas” singer Gayla Peevey welcomed to Oklahoma City’s zoo in December, has died at age 26. Read story

Koala populations are expected to decline by 50 percent in the next 20 years, according to the Australian Museum.

The koalas are threatened. Can their genome help us save them?

July 5, 2018, 6:00am Life

The koala is an unusual creature. Native to Australia and a bit bigger than a raccoon, it spends most of its time in eucalyptus trees, gorging on leaves that are toxic to nearly every other animal on the planet. Read story