How to protect rhinos from poachers, learning about what owls know, and the campaign to stop the construction of the biggest ‘monkey farm’ in the US - these are just some of the topics covered in our most listened-to episodes of the year.

The two remarkable events highlight how wildlife continues to surprise scientists and animal experts.

The religious event has been condemned for its “unfathomable” scale of animal suffering, with devotees beheading thousands of buffalo, goats, rats, and more.

In the United States, around 80% of antibiotics are sold for use in animal agriculture.

Wolf populations in danger of culling and hunting for sport as the European Commission votes to strip back protections for the species under Bern Convention.

Animal neglect, suffering and death were documented by an ex-employee of the PetSmart’s reptile supplier, prompting calls for the company to stop selling live animals.

In the research participants who swapped to a plant-based diet reported weight loss and a reduction in severe hot flashes.

The infamous 8ft wall was built to fence the animals off from nearby beef and dairy ranches in the area, but has led to the elk being blocked from accessing essential food and water during droughts.

The US aquarium chain has faced multiple undercover investigations that have exposed animal suffering and fatalities that could have been prevented.

The state currently allows trophy hunters to use packs of dogs on public lands to kill wildlife, which campaign groups say is needlessly cruel and also endangers non-target wildlife and hikers.

South Africa, with its weak regulations on the breeding, trade, and movement of non-native species, has become the world's largest exporter of big cats and their parts to Asian countries.

The skins of wild animals, such as crocodiles, alligators, and snakes, will be banned on the runway from 2025.

Militaries around the world conduct a variety of tests on animals, including shooting, bombs, biological and chemical weapons, and even nuclear agents.

The county’s last remaining dolphinarium will be ordered to close and no dolphins will be allowed to be imported.

The case has renewed anger over public money being used to fund monkey experiments, with the accused US facility receiving $19 million this year alone from National Institutes of Health contracts.

Known as the ‘The Torture King’, he plead guilty to creating and distributing sadistic videos of monkeys being tortured, which were posted on private social media channels.

Poaching, habitat loss, climate change, human population growth, and urbanization are pushing giraffes closer to extinction.

Thousands of dogs have already been rounded up and killed as Morocco prepares for its World Cup bid next month, with campaigners warning that the situation could worsen.

The CDC has confirmed that a child has tested positive for bird flu, marking the 55th human case in the U.S.

The restaurant slaughtered thousands of dogs and chickens, but now its owner has joined a campaign to end the dog meat trade.