Forty Most Positive Animal News Stories of 2021

Dec 16, 2021 3:00 PM EST

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.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

01
Five endangered Northern cheetah cubs were born at Fota Wildlife Park.

via 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
02
Dog who kept stealing unicorn plushie from a store gets to keep his toy and finds a new home.

via People

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
03
Over 100 turtles were rescued from stranding on Cape Cod beaches by New England Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital.

via Sentinel and Enterprise

Read more: Sentinel and Enterprise
04
A crow that can swear befriended children at an Oregon elementary school.

via Oregon Live

Read more: The Oregonian
05
Casey the Chocolate Lab works full time at a St. Louis hospital calming children getting the COVID vaccine.

via Fox2Now

Read more: Fox2Now
06
Number of jaguars in Mexico continues to grow, shows that conservation efforts are successful.

via Mongabay

Read more: Mongabay
07
Nepal nearly doubles its tiger population, erases poaching in the country.

via Nepal Times

Read more: The Star
08
367 presumed-extinct tentacled butterfly rays found in Iran since 2019.

via Smithsonian

Read more: Smithsonian
09
12-year-old helps rescue injured 100-pound dog on a Hawaii hiking trail by building him a stretcher.

via Khon2

Read more: Khon 2
10
10 endangered baby Komodo dragons were recorded hatching at San Antonio Zoo.

via USA Today

Read more:USA Today
11
Stray dog saves family from fire, finds his original owners in the process.

via Channel 11

Read more: Channel 11
12
Owner adopts companion for her blind dog, discovers the two are siblings.

via Newsweek

Read more: Newsweek
13
California monarch butterfly population starts to bounce back after a record low this year.

via Washington Post

Read more: The Washington Post
14
Spain passed a law recognizing animals as sentient beings.

via El Pais

Read more:El País
15
Florida panthers are making a comeback after nearly going extinct.

via npr

Read more: NPR
16
Birth of critically endangered Arabian leopard cub fuels hope for species' survival.

via Guardian Mag

Read more: Guardian Mag
17
South Africa will ban breeding of lions in captivity for hunting.

via Eyewitness News

Read more: Eyewitness News
18
A bill to relocate retired US gov't lab animals to loving homes was introduced in the Senate.

via World Animal News

Read more: World Animal News
19
Babbler bird spotted in Borneo for the first time in over 170 years.

via Smithsonian

Read more: Smithsonian
20
The European Parliament backed a ban on caged animal farming.

via iStock

Read more: Euronews
21
The Rhino population in Nepal increased by 16% in 2021.

via WWF Nepal

Read more: WWF Nepal
22
Oldest Nile Crocodile at South Africa's Crocworld, Henry, turned 120 years old.

via The Witness

Read more: The Witness
23
Black Cat Appreciation Day helps Utah move toward becoming a no-kill state.

via KSL

Read more: KSL
24
Over 45 dogs were flown from crowded Texas shelters to forever homes in Oregon.

via People

Read more: People
25
Vietnam circus ended bear performances and surrendered 4 moon bears to animal rescue.

via People

Read more: People
26
The UK ended use of a bee-harming pesticide.

via BBC

Read more: BBC News
27
Rescue dog awarded gold medal after saving over 100 koalas during Australian bushfires.

via Newsweek

Read more: Newsweek
28
African cheetah to be reintroduced in India after going extinct in the region 68 years ago.

via Firstpost

Read more: Firstposthttps://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/african-cheetah-to-be-re-introduced-in-india-after-it-was-declared-extinct-68-years-ago-9090871.html
29
A UK law declared octopuses, crabs, and lobsters sentient beings.

via LSE

Read more: LSE
30
Tuna population is recovering after being fished to near-extinction.

via BBC

Read more:BBC News
31
Ecologists bought a blue gum plantation and returned it to former wetland, animals flock back.

via ABC

Read more: ABC
32
Snowy owl spotted in Central Park for the first time in over 100 years.

via NBC NY

Read more: NBC New York
33
A critically endangered kiwikiu bird was spotted alive in Hawaii.

via Ecowatch

Read more: Ecowatch
34
Great Barrier Reef "gives birth" in massive spawning event after suffering from too-warm oceans last year.

via CBC

Read more: CBC
35
Giant tortoise on Galapagos Islands found to be from species thought to have been extinct for a century.

via BBC

Read more: BBC
36
Two dogs coordinated the rescue of their 71-year-old owner when he had a seizure on a hike.

via Boingboing

Read more: BoingBoing
37
The first gray wolf puppy since the 1940s was born in Colorado.

via Illinois News

Read more: Illinois News
38
Drop in Alaskan water traffic thanks to COVID has led to happier, freer whales.

via BBC

Read more: BBC News
39
PAWS Act will allow VA to fund training of service dogs for US veterans.

via First Coast News

Read more: First Coast News
40
Delaware shelter where Biden adopted dog Major hosts "Indoguration" for the presidential pup, raises funds for Humane Association.

via People

Read more: People

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Five endangered Northern cheetah cubs were born at Fota Wildlife Park.

Dog who kept stealing unicorn plushie from a store gets to keep his toy and finds a new home.

Over 100 turtles were rescued from stranding on Cape Cod beaches by New England Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital.

A crow that can swear befriended children at an Oregon elementary school.

Casey the Chocolate Lab works full time at a St. Louis hospital calming children getting the COVID vaccine.

Number of jaguars in Mexico continues to grow, shows that conservation efforts are successful.

Nepal nearly doubles its tiger population, erases poaching in the country.

367 presumed-extinct tentacled butterfly rays found in Iran since 2019.

12-year-old helps rescue injured 100-pound dog on a Hawaii hiking trail by building him a stretcher.

10 endangered baby Komodo dragons were recorded hatching at San Antonio Zoo.

Stray dog saves family from fire, finds his original owners in the process.

Owner adopts companion for her blind dog, discovers the two are siblings.

California monarch butterfly population starts to bounce back after a record low this year.

Spain passed a law recognizing animals as sentient beings.

Florida panthers are making a comeback after nearly going extinct.

Birth of critically endangered Arabian leopard cub fuels hope for species' survival.

South Africa will ban breeding of lions in captivity for hunting.

A bill to relocate retired US gov't lab animals to loving homes was introduced in the Senate.

Babbler bird spotted in Borneo for the first time in over 170 years.

The European Parliament backed a ban on caged animal farming.

The Rhino population in Nepal increased by 16% in 2021.

Oldest Nile Crocodile at South Africa's Crocworld, Henry, turned 120 years old.

Black Cat Appreciation Day helps Utah move toward becoming a no-kill state.

Over 45 dogs were flown from crowded Texas shelters to forever homes in Oregon.

Vietnam circus ended bear performances and surrendered 4 moon bears to animal rescue.

The UK ended use of a bee-harming pesticide.

Rescue dog awarded gold medal after saving over 100 koalas during Australian bushfires.

African cheetah to be reintroduced in India after going extinct in the region 68 years ago.

A UK law declared octopuses, crabs, and lobsters sentient beings.

Tuna population is recovering after being fished to near-extinction.

Ecologists bought a blue gum plantation and returned it to former wetland, animals flock back.

Snowy owl spotted in Central Park for the first time in over 100 years.

A critically endangered kiwikiu bird was spotted alive in Hawaii.

Great Barrier Reef "gives birth" in massive spawning event after suffering from too-warm oceans last year.

Giant tortoise on Galapagos Islands found to be from species thought to have been extinct for a century.

Two dogs coordinated the rescue of their 71-year-old owner when he had a seizure on a hike.

The first gray wolf puppy since the 1940s was born in Colorado.

Drop in Alaskan water traffic thanks to COVID has led to happier, freer whales.

PAWS Act will allow VA to fund training of service dogs for US veterans.

Delaware shelter where Biden adopted dog Major hosts "Indoguration" for the presidential pup, raises funds for Humane Association.

Tags

Handpicked for You

{{title}}

Handpicked for You

{{title}}