Forty Most Positive Animal News Stories of 2021
Another year has passed in the blink of an eye. Though 2021 didn't bring the end of our 2020 problems as we hoped it might, our lives have finally begun to return to normal. There's still a lot of uncertainty we have to deal with...but one thing that is certain is how well things are going in the animal kingdom.
Thanks to continued lockdowns, amazing conservation efforts, and noble rescue workers, there's lots of great news to report from this year about our furry, scaly, feathery friends. Many endangered species are being repopulated, species that were thought extinct have been found alive, and habitats have been restored bringing back their original fauna. Dogs were both rescued and rescuers. New laws were passed all over the world that will make life better for animals.
No matter how you're feeling about this year's end, take a look at this list to raise your spirits.
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1
Five endangered Northern cheetah cubs were born at Fota Wildlife Park.
5 baby Northern cheetahs were born in August at the Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland to parents Grainne and Archie. They were named through an online vote as Roy, Sonia, Mia, Arlo, and Cora. 5 is a particularly large litter, so this is a great success for the European breeding program which aims to restore endangered species populations.
Read more: Fota Wildlife
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2
Dog who kept stealing unicorn plushie from a store gets to keep his toy and finds a new home.
A North Carolina Dollar General received repeated visits from a stray dog, who went straight for the same pink unicorn toy every time. They finally called animal control, who brought Sisu, the dog, to a shelter...but not before buying him his favorite stuffed animal as a present. The shelter posted photos of Sisu and his toy, prompting lots of interested would-be adoptees and Sisu was eventually matched with a lovely family who will be sure to stock up on stuffed unicorns.
Read more: People
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3
Over 100 turtles were rescued from stranding on Cape Cod beaches by New England Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital.
Read more: Sentinel and Enterprise
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4
A crow that can swear befriended children at an Oregon elementary school.
Read more: The Oregonian
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5
Casey the Chocolate Lab works full time at a St. Louis hospital calming children getting the COVID vaccine.
Read more: Fox2Now
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6
Number of jaguars in Mexico continues to grow, shows that conservation efforts are successful.
Read more: Mongabay
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7
Nepal nearly doubles its tiger population, erases poaching in the country.
Read more: The Star
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8
367 presumed-extinct tentacled butterfly rays found in Iran since 2019.
Read more: Smithsonian
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9
12-year-old helps rescue injured 100-pound dog on a Hawaii hiking trail by building him a stretcher.
Read more: Khon 2
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10
10 endangered baby Komodo dragons were recorded hatching at San Antonio Zoo.
Read more:USA Today
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11
Stray dog saves family from fire, finds his original owners in the process.
Read more: Channel 11
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12
Owner adopts companion for her blind dog, discovers the two are siblings.
Read more: Newsweek
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13
California monarch butterfly population starts to bounce back after a record low this year.
Read more: The Washington Post
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14
Spain passed a law recognizing animals as sentient beings.
Read more:El PaÃs
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15
Florida panthers are making a comeback after nearly going extinct.
Read more: NPR
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16
Birth of critically endangered Arabian leopard cub fuels hope for species' survival.
Read more: Guardian Mag
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17
South Africa will ban breeding of lions in captivity for hunting.
Read more: Eyewitness News
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18
A bill to relocate retired US gov't lab animals to loving homes was introduced in the Senate.
Read more: World Animal News
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19
Babbler bird spotted in Borneo for the first time in over 170 years.
Read more: Smithsonian
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20
The European Parliament backed a ban on caged animal farming.
Read more: Euronews
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21
The Rhino population in Nepal increased by 16% in 2021.
Read more: WWF Nepal
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22
Oldest Nile Crocodile at South Africa's Crocworld, Henry, turned 120 years old.
Read more: The Witness
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23
Black Cat Appreciation Day helps Utah move toward becoming a no-kill state.
Read more: KSL
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24
Over 45 dogs were flown from crowded Texas shelters to forever homes in Oregon.
Read more: People
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25
Vietnam circus ended bear performances and surrendered 4 moon bears to animal rescue.
Read more: People
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26
The UK ended use of a bee-harming pesticide.
Read more: BBC News
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27
Rescue dog awarded gold medal after saving over 100 koalas during Australian bushfires.
Read more: Newsweek
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28
African cheetah to be reintroduced in India after going extinct in the region 68 years ago.
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29
A UK law declared octopuses, crabs, and lobsters sentient beings.
Read more: LSE
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30
Tuna population is recovering after being fished to near-extinction.
Read more:BBC News
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31
Ecologists bought a blue gum plantation and returned it to former wetland, animals flock back.
Read more: ABC
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32
Snowy owl spotted in Central Park for the first time in over 100 years.
Read more: NBC New York
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33
A critically endangered kiwikiu bird was spotted alive in Hawaii.
Read more: Ecowatch
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34
Great Barrier Reef "gives birth" in massive spawning event after suffering from too-warm oceans last year.
Read more: CBC
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35
Giant tortoise on Galapagos Islands found to be from species thought to have been extinct for a century.
Read more: BBC
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36
Two dogs coordinated the rescue of their 71-year-old owner when he had a seizure on a hike.
Read more: BoingBoing
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37
The first gray wolf puppy since the 1940s was born in Colorado.
Read more: Illinois News
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38
Drop in Alaskan water traffic thanks to COVID has led to happier, freer whales.
Read more: BBC News
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39
PAWS Act will allow VA to fund training of service dogs for US veterans.
Read more: First Coast News
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40
Delaware shelter where Biden adopted dog Major hosts "Indoguration" for the presidential pup, raises funds for Humane Association.
Read more: People
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