Good Animal News

Celebrating positive news about animals making a difference for people — and people making a difference for animals

An African elephant pours dirt over its head

Elephants are saving African forests — by trampling through them

Although the behavior may appear destructive, it is anything but.

A photo collage of 2 bikers biking on a bicycle lane, a statue of Barbara Rose Johns holding up a book, hero Ahmed el Ahmed in his hospital bed, an aerial view of apartment buildings, and a line of solar panels

Good News This Week: December 20, 2025 - Puppets, Raccoons, & Grandmas

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

An Australian cave with sunlight leaking in

Scientists discover 'ghost' marsupial species in Australia. It's related to the kangaroo

An exciting fossil discovery unearthed a new species of kangaroo relative in an Australian cave system.

A group of 19 Buddhist monks in orange robes walk barefoot along a road in the United States, a dog at their side

Buddhist monks (and their rescue dog) meet with Americans on 2,300-mile trek across the country

The Peace Walk began in Fort Worth, Texas, and will end in Washington, D.C. Along the way, the monks are meeting with and being cared for by local communities.

Two raccoons approach the camera in a closeup, with the one of the left sticking its tongue out

USDA airdrops vaccine treats to wild raccoons in annual effort to prevent rabies

In August, the USDA continued its yearly duty: giving hungry raccoons vaccines in the form of tasty treats.

An Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin swims in a close-up photo

South Korea seeks to protect threatened pod of dolphins by giving them the same legal rights as humans

For a pod of 120 dolphins off the coast of Jeju Island, the measure could be lifesaving.

Two photos side-by-side. On the left is an elderly woman snuggling a small, elderly dog. On the right are two senior dogs sitting in a bed together

At this 'cuddle club,' senior dogs and senior citizens find companionship in each other

San Francisco’s Muttville Senior Dog Rescue hosts monthly meetups for elderly community members — both human and canine.

A chipmunk pokes its head out of the top of a den by a tree log.

New study shows rodent dens make ideal homes for bee colonies: 'There's nothing cozier than a burrow dug by a chipmunk'

The new research comes from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

A whale's tail peeking out of the ocean.

Experts say the 'whale poop loop' is saving the planet

New research shows that whale poop is even more valuable than marine biologists originally speculated.

An aerial view of a wildlife overpass over six lanes of highway on I-25 in Colorado.

North America's 'largest wildlife overpass' is finally complete. It's expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes by 90%

Elk, black bears, mountain lions, and more can now safely cross a six-lane highway thanks to an overpass that connects 39,000 acres of habitat.

A raccoon passed out next to a toilet in a liquor store bathroom

The viral 'drunk raccoon' now has a merch line. So far, it's raised $250K for a local animal shelter

Last month, an adorable wild raccoon broke into a liquor store and passed out. Now, he’s a cultural icon.

A larger photo of people snorkeling at night with head lamps on in a pond. A smaller insert photo of a lined seahorse.

At the world's first 'seahorse national park,' visitors can take night swims in a bioluminescent lagoon

The national park marks the Bahamas’ 33rd national park and second on the picturesque island.