For those wanting a cuddle buddy, many pet rats are gentle and affectionate towards humans. Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network has taken in 12 of the 68 available rats, but that still leaves ...

against buddy Rat Kiley's advice. She first takes a naively-positive interest in Vietnamese wildlife, natives and culture but amusingly distracts the men and tries amateur comfort-nursing.

Jo Ritchie, Operations Manager for the Rotoroa Island Trust, says the island’s trapping equipment is due for replacement and so Big Buddy’s timing is great. “Rats swim to Rotoroa from ...