Naturalist and author Richard Mabey once said, “The natural world is like a theatre, a stage beyond our own, in which the dramas that are an irreducible part of being alive are played out without hatred or envy or hypocrisy. Watching wildlife can tell us much about ourselves and our own frailties.”
You don’t have to travel very far to enjoy the benefits of some animal observation. You don’t even have to leave your living room, thanks to these fascinating live animal cams. Come here for your daily dose of awe (and aww), whenever you need it.
April the giraffe
In April 2017, some 1.2 million people watched live online as April, a reticulated giraffe at the Animal Adventure Park in New York, gave birth to her calf Tajiri. The park has decided to maintain the wildly popular live cam, so fans of April can continue to check in on her and her rapidly growing son day or night.
Other giraffes you might see on screen include daddy Oliver, as well as 14-year-old female Johari and baby Azizi.
Kitten Rescue
This webcam is all about kittens — Photo courtesy of iStock / skynesher
The internet has a not-so-secret obsession: cute cats. Just take a look at the /aww forum on Reddit, and you’ll see the addiction is real. Kitten Rescue, one of the largest and most successful animal welfare groups in Los Angeles, gives online viewers a behind-the-scenes look at their rescued cats and kittens – and it’s adorable.
Decorah Bald Eagles
This pair of bald eagles has been nesting near the Decorah Trout Hatchery in Decorah, Iowa for more than 10 years. This cam keeps track of their comings and goings, including their egg laying and hatching, which typically begins in late March or early April.
Even after the eaglets disperse in the autumn, the two adult eagles, known as Mom and DM2, are almost always around.
Giant pandas
The Panda Cam tracks two giant pandas at the National Zoo — Photo courtesy of Jasper Colt, USA TODAY
This pair of giant pandas, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, might just be the most popular residents at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The zoo maintains two different panda cams, so viewers can toggle back and forth to see them munching on bamboo, playing in the trees, working with their trainers or rolling in the grass.
Africam
For many a traveler, going on safari in Africa represents a big bucket list item. The live safari cams from Africam are the next best thing. Six different cameras keep tabs on Kruger National Park, Tembe Elephant Park, Naledi Game Lodge, Nkorho Bush Lodge, the Olifants River and Pilanesberg National Park.
Each camera offers tips on the best seasons and times of day for viewing. Even at night, the soundscape is fantastic.
Brooks Falls Bearcam
Brown bears can be seen fishing at Brooks Falls in Alaska — Photo courtesy of NPS Photo
One of Mother Nature’s most impressive spectacles takes place at Brooks Falls in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. From mid-spring to mid-fall, brown bears visit this spot along the river to fish for sockeye salmon. A webcam at the Brooks Camp viewing platform records it all.
Watch male bears grapple for the best fishing spots as sockeye salmon jump the falls.
Jelly cam
The Vancouver Aquarium gives a virtual glimpse of their jellyfish in motion — Photo courtesy of iStock / xijian
If you’re in need of a little Zen-like relaxation, tune into this live cam at the Vancouver Aquarium. It’s easy to get hypnotized by the rhythmic expansion and contraction of jellyfish, in this case Pacific sea nettles. These bizarre and captivating invertebrates are made mostly of water and lack bones, a brain or a heart.
Puppy Playroom at Warrior Canine Connection
We dare you not to smile while watching these puppies play — Photo courtesy of iStock / OK_Gaffer
Warrior Canine Connection trains service dogs to aid in the recovery of wounded warriors by creating a strong human/animal bond. Puppies come out to play each day starting when they’re four weeks old. Watch the Puppy Playroom cam to see these puppies jump and tumble around as they’re socialized with the help of WCC staff and volunteers.
Seattle Aquarium Sea Otters
The sea otters who call Seattle Aquarium home show off for the camera daily between 9 am and 6 pm PST. These northern sea otters, Adaa, Lootas, Aniak and Mishka, live in a recreated version of their rocky coastal habitat. Viewers will often see them swimming, playing with toys, munching on snacks, grooming and occasionally holding paws while they nap.
Pacific Walrus beach
Hundreds of walruses sunbathe on Main Beach — Photo courtesy of iStock / halbrindley
The northern tip of Alaska’s Round Island attracts the greatest number of Pacific walruses to a single haul-out location. As many as 15,000 of these marine mammals gather at any given time, and livecam viewers might also spot nesting seabirds and other sea mammals near the shore. Be sure to turn up the sound to listen to their oddly comforting grunts.