Speedy Animal Control, San Diego CA

Boiling lobsters alive to be banned in UK animal cruelty crackdown

Move is part of a long-awaited Labour strategy including outlawing hen cages and ending puppy farming

Boiling lobsters alive will be banned under proposals to improve animal welfare in England.

Government ministers say that “live boiling is not an acceptable killing method” for crustaceans and alternative guidance will be published.

‘It’s upset us all’: New Forest residents unnerved by man leaving animal carcasses by churches

Case of man who apparently targeted Christians is latest in series of incidents in Hampshire of animal remains being dumped

The people of the New Forest are accustomed to curious goings-on. The woods and heaths of the national park in southern England are the setting for all manner of tales of witches, pixies, cursed souls and rituals, and, even today, are a magnet for those fascinated by the otherworldly.

But residents are aghast at the case of a local man who hit the headlines after admitting dumping the carcasses of animals, including black lambs, near churches in and around the forest, apparently targeting Christian worshippers.

Hen cages and pig farrowing crates to be outlawed in England

Humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish and end to puppy farming also in new package of animal welfare laws

Caged hens will be a thing of the past in England, the government has announced, as it launches a package of new animal welfare laws.

Pig farrowing crates, which campaigners have said are cruel, will also be banned under the welfare changes. These cramped crates are used to stop pigs from rolling over and crushing their young, but once in them sows cannot turn over or move around at all.

Country diary: A seal so close I can see its nostrils flaring | Tom Allan

River Dart, Devon: It probably came here for the shoals of grey mullet, but just for a second, it’s more interested in me and my paddleboard

There’s a lull between the storms, and for the first time in days it’s calm enough to take out my stand-up paddleboard. It’s 7.30am, and on this sheltered tidal creek on the River Dart, the water is barely moving: a gentle pulse in the scum line along the beach is the last gasp of the tide’s energy.

When I join the main course of the Dart, the water state changes. Here the river is thick with leaves and smashed twigs, and it’s moving with purpose. A day’s worth of Dartmoor rain is flowing downstream, encouraged by the tide, which has just begun to ebb. I shorten my stroke, working hard to maintain momentum. My aim is to paddle a couple more masochistic kilometres upriver, then turn and enjoy an effortless glide downstream.

Forget elf on the shelf – these Aussie birds are perfect for the festive season | Jess Harwood

Magpie on a mince pie anyone?

‘Miracle’ of Zealandia: chick is born to rare takahē pair thought to be infertile

Unexpected arrival is a boon for birdlife in New Zealand, where there are only 500 takahē left

A pair of rare native New Zealand takahē birds who were believed infertile have stunned staff at the world’s largest urban eco-sanctuary, after hatching a “miracle” chick.

The roughly seven-week old chick was discovered inside Zealandia, a fully fenced eco-sanctuary 10 minutes from Wellington’s city centre, in November, but its arrival has been a closely guarded secret to ensure its safety.