🌞 The animals going viral on social media

A few new faces are reading the Good Newsletter this week, so I wanted to quickly introduce myself.

I’m Zara! I created The Daily Aus many moons ago with my best friend Sam, and a few weeks ago, I launched this newsletter.

As a chronically online/news-addicted girl trying to build a business, writing this newsletter is the best part of my week. It reminds me that there are good people doing good things each and every day - sometimes we just need to look for those moments. One such moment from my week was meeting my new niece, Esti. She’s perfection and I’m obsessed.

Enough about me…let’s get into it!

Australia’s first women’s refuge has been added to the NSW State Heritage Register. Elsie Refuge was first established in Sydney in 1974 after a group of feminist leaders claimed squatter’s rights in two abandoned homes in Glebe. The group, led by Dr Anne Summers, changed the locks and created the country’s first refuge for women fleeing violence, kickstarting the establishment of more than 800 shelters across Australia.

A plaque unveiled outside the building recently says: “Armed only with broomsticks, shovels and energetic determination, they changed the locks to establish residency and claimed squatter’s rights. On that day, 16 March 1974 the women declared Elsie Women’s Refuge Night Shelter open as Australia’s first emergency safe haven for women and children subject to domestic violence.”

Now, Elsie Refuge has been included on the NSW State Heritage Register to “recognise its enduring legacy” and “ensure that this feminist story, and the stories of those it sheltered, will continue to be told,” according to NSW Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe.

A team of vets has performed a world-first keyhole surgery on Amara, a two-year-old Southern white rhino in northwest England. Known for her usually “playful character”, 800kg Amara raised concerns among zookeepers earlier this year with a limp on her right leg.

After a thorough investigation, the veterinary team discovered a rare fracture in her ulna near the wrist joint—an injury with no prior documented cases in rhinos. A team of 10 vets—who took what they knew about operating on horses— performed five hours of intricate keyhole surgery. Following the surgery, Amara was placed in a cast for weeks to support her recovery while being closely monitored by her mother, Meru.

Dr. David Stack, Senior Lecturer in Equine Surgery at the University of Liverpool, said: “Treating Amara has been a truly ground-breaking veterinary journey incorporating many firsts which we will now document should another animal team encounter similar scenarios in the future.”

The team remains hopeful that Amara’s story will inspire and guide future veterinary care for exotic animals.

Last week, I brought you all the news of Moo-Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippo who has gone viral on the internet. Her name roughly translates to “bouncy pig” and fans are flocking to see her at a Thai open zoo.

This week, we’re going closer to home with news of Pesto the Penguin. Pesto, who lives at Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium, has captured the hearts of the world “not just for his adorable antics, but for his impressive size”.

Pesto was born in January this year, and at just nine months old, weighs 21kg. According to Sea Life, that’s “thanks to his hearty appetite of 25 fish a day” and just plain genetics: Pesto’s dad is the aquarium’s “biggest and oldest” penguin.

As you can see, Pesto is a furry ball of brown fluff right now, but that’s expected to change when he fledges (develops his adult feathers). When this happens, he’s expected to look very different and will grow his waterproof, colourful feathers.

Travelling responsibly on a budget is becoming increasingly important. A recent study found that while 90% of travellers seek sustainable options, 70% feel overwhelmed by how to make eco-friendly choices.

Intrepid is here to help, offering small group adventures that prioritise responsible travelling! With their Europe 2025 sale on right now, you can save up to 15% on some unforgettable trips in Europe and its neighbours, like Morocco and Turkey.

You’ll also discover authentic experiences away from the crowds, guided by Intrepid leaders who know all the best spots. Plus, choosing B-Corp certified operators like Intrepid helps you champion responsible travel within the communities and environments you visit.

As 2025 approaches, now is a great time to book your next European adventure with Intrepid.

"If it bleeds, it leads" - That's what generations of newsmakers have always been told and known to be true. Well, we here at The Daily Aus don't accept that. We want to do news differently.

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You’re looking at a view of the comet called Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, which was pictured about 144 million km away from the Earth's atmosphere, as seen from the International Space Station.

An Australian social platform designed for neurodiverse, chronically ill, and disabled individuals has quickly shot up to number 15 on the app store just 24 hours after its launch.

Spoony, founded by Nick Carlton following his own experience with chronic illness, seeks to create a safer, stigma-free space for meaningful connections. Carlton says the app provides a safer alternative to “big social networks and dating apps” that often lack a secure environment for this community.

The app's launch follows successful early testing with 1,200 users, who reported a 25% reduction in feelings of loneliness over three months.

Spoony enables users to make friends, find love, and helps parents of neurodivergent children connect with playmates.

The platform also includes health management features like symptom tracking and links to care providers, including psychologists and therapists. According to Carlton, “creating meaningful connections should be as natural as the rise and fall of the sun”.