Where the Wild Things are!

Forget the zoo - get up close and personal with animals online. By Lani Thorpe.

So, you've got a school project and need to do some research on the mating ritual of the scarab jewel beetle. Or perhaps you're thinking of adopting that pet gerbil that you've always wanted, and need to find out what to feed it. Where once you may have hauled out your set of encyclopaedias from the bookshelf, now a little time spent on the internet can reveal a wealth of information. Of course, there are countless sites out there, but to avoid getting lost amongst the junk, here are a few good starting points to help you on your way.

If it's general animal facts and figures that you're after, such as habitat and life span, you may like to check out www.animalplanet.com. Sky TV subscribers will be familiar with the Animal Planet channel, and the website is just as educational and entertaining. The site has an 'Animals A to Zoo' section, which features a comprehensive mammal guide, including video clips, photos and even quizzes on some animals. And being based on a TV channel, there are plenty of clips from various shows to enjoy - though you will need a broadband internet connection.

Another site you should swing by is the good old BBC. At www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals, you'll find extensive archives of articles on all different aspects of animal life. The site divides info into sections on birds, mammals, sea life and so on, each with its own assortment of articles, video clips - some narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough (if you don't recognise his name, you'll know his distinctive voice) - and interactive challenges.

Now you've done the research, you'll probably want some visual aids. Nothing brightens up a dull assignment page like a great picture, and if you need some photos to accompany your project, or are just after some nice snaps for your desktop wallpaper, these are the sites you should hit.

For stunning animal photography, the National Geographic website shouldn't be missed. Head to www.nationalgeographic.com/animals for a good selection of wallpaper and pictures. The site www.imageafter.com is a general image library, where you can search under various categories, including birds, insects and land and sea animals. Because photos are submitted by the public, the quality varies, but most are pretty decent. They're also completely free to use.Other free image sites include www.freenaturepictures.com, www.bornfree.org.uk, www.freefoto.com and www.classroomclipart.com.

Pick a pet

If you're looking for information about pets - where to go to adopt one or how to look after it once you have - there are tons of websites to help you out. The SPCA (www.spca.org.nz) is the place to go for an animal addition to your family. There are pictures of animals up for adoption on the site, so you can pick out your favourites before you visit your local centre - have a look at all those adorable puppies posing for the camera and just try to resist!

Like the SPCA, non-profit organisations www.aucklandcatrescue.org and www.lonelymiaow.co.nz pick up hundreds of stray cats, which volunteers foster until new homes can be found. Check out their websites for pictures of available cats and if you decide to go ahead with adoption, everything you need to know is provided. Keep in mind you'll still be required to pay for your new pet, with around $50-$90 required to cover the costs of neutering and vaccinations - what you'd have to pay with a new cat, anyway.There won't be many out there that haven't browsed the pages of Trade Me (www.trademe.co.nz), but aside from being a place to buy paperclips and ball dates, there is an extensive list of pets for sale. Search under pets and animals, then take a look at what's on offer: everything from free kittens to $3,000 pure-bred dogs to llamas, goats and lizards. Pet accessories are also available, so you can buy everything you need to set up your new pal all in one go.

Virtual vets

Once you've chosen your new companion, where can you go to find out how to care for it? Again, a visit to the SPCA's site will equip you with everything you need to know about introducing your new animal into your home, as well as a link to the Pfizer Vet Find service, should you need to find your local vet. Centralpets.com claims to be the 'pet care resource', and doesn't disappoint, with information on many different animal breeds. It's particularly useful for finding out about domestic animals, listing over 110 different species of cat alone, and details of how to care for each.

Pet forums are a useful way of finding out specific information: either search the forums for postings that are relevant to you, or post your own question for others to answer. They're also helpful when you have a medical query that might not be serious enough to warrant a visit to the vet. Of course, when you do want professional advice, sites such as www.petsonthenet.co.nz/evet.htm and www.vets.org.nz have listings of common animal medical complaints and treatments.Centralpets has a huge forum with many sections, so you're bound to find what you're looking for.

Need to toilet train your parrot? No problem - it's all there on the forum. Local website www.doglinks.co.nz is chock-full of doggie-related news, issues and healthcare tips, and has a forum, too, so you can swap your canine queries with others. More places to check out: forums.petlovers.com, www.thepetprofessor.com and www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/pets.

Build your own animal

Okay, so maybe you've decided that you need something a bit less demanding than a real-life pet, something a little more low maintenance. What you need is a virtual pet. In the same vein as the Tamagotchi toy that was popular a few years back, virtual pets require no more care than you're prepared to give, and without the dire consequences should you forget to feed them. At www.neopet.com you'll find 54 creatures ready for adoption, with customisable appearances and personalities.

Aside from the basics like feeding your neopet, you can build it a home, enter it into beauty contests and have it battle other neopets for points. There are so many different areas to play in and explore, you may find it's more absorbing than having a real pet! More virtual pet sites include www.showdog.com, www.adoptme.com and www.marapets.com.

Finally, it wouldn't be the weird, wonderful web if there weren't some wacky animal sites out there. Here are some that just shouldn't be missed: tinyurl.com/fj6yc - a video of a two-faced kitten recently born in Ohio in the US; beedogs.com - dogs dressed in, yup, bee costumes; and www.petoffice.co.jp/catprin/english - various costumes for your cat, including a frog hat, chicken hat and shirt-collar-and-tie costume. Hmmm. I bet Fluffy would look great in that.