Hyenas can be super duper cute! And a hyena cub? Always cute.
Here's a mother who loves her baby and shows it by grooming and snuggling with the sweet cub. That moment when the cub flops down onto her.. endless squeals! Animal relationships with their mothers are just so gosh-darn special, we can hardly stand it.
If you look closely, it almost looks like the mom is sleeping throughout the whole video. As if our hearts could handle any more cuteness.
2020 has been one rocky year but luckily, in the world of animals, it's never been better! Since the beginning of the pandemic, it was the Earth and animals that have benefited from the lack of us humans destroying the world.
And with the yearly competition, Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, we're further able to celebrate the magic that is animals, majestic or not. The incredible photographers that have been selected for this year's finalists have really delivered some animal gems! The following photos, captured at the moment, are hysterical and show us all that we're not alone when it comes to looking funny when our photos are taken!
We were able to talk to Michelle, the head of Comedy Wildlife Photography Award's press office, and asked about the process of narrowing down so many wonderful photographs into the top finalists, she had this to say about the process, "... it is a brutal process. We started with over 7000 images - and whittled them down based on: level of humour, quality of photography, ability to get people's attention. It sounds relatively vague the last point, but we want to get our message of conservation across to as many people as possible, and the images must attract their attention!"
Well, these photographs selected definitely capture our attention!
The winners will be announced on October 22nd, but the following images are all winners in our eyes! Congrats to all the photographers who made it to the finals and thank you for sharing such imagery with us -- we all could use this fantastic pick-me-up!
Another older gem of a video. When this giant bear walks up to where a man is sitting, the last thing you would think it would do is sit peacefully beside the man, and enjoy the view.
That's exactly what happened. Really makes you wonder if sometimes, bears don't want to deal with you just as much as we don't want to accidentally stumble upon them. Maybe, they just want to take in the view, too.
We will say, however, we are slightly disappointed the bear didn't sit in the empty chair beside him. Oh well! Can't win them all!
Little Grey and Little White, both 12-year-old female whales, have been in captivity since 2011. Performing for an audience at Chengfeng Ocean World, in China.
Today, they are one step closer to swimming freely in the open sea. After been flow for 30 hours, traveling 6,000 miles, these two beauties had arrived at the Beluga Sanctuary. The pair are currently staying in a bayside care pool to get them acclimated before the release into the sanctuary. Klettsvik Bay, in the islands off the south coast of Iceland, and is known as the world's first beluga sanctuary.
Head of Sea Life Trust, Andy Bool, said, "We're absolutely delighted to be able to share the news that Little Grey and Little White are safely in their sea sanctuary care pools and are just one step away from being released into their wider open water home. Following extensive planning and rehearsals, the first stage of their release back to the ocean was as smooth as we had hoped and planned for. We are carefully monitoring Little Grey and Little White with our expert care team and veterinarians and hope to announce their final release very soon."
Story via The Independent
Being a wildlife photographer is one of the coolest professions around! You get to travel the world and see such marvelous sights -- what a dream!
However, sometimes you're a little too close for comfort! And sometimes, you might not even notice the wildlife approaching you from behind... surprise! With those surprises, comes this fun-filled wild animal encounters that no one was expecting.
Animals always have a way to just be so captivating. Or so we thought...
Who knew animals were just like us?! They too have their unphotogenic moments in front of the camera! But oddly enough, we still think they are adorable! (Goofy, but adorable!)
Nothing like seeing the majestic wildlife of animals, not looking quite so majestic!
Don't believe us? Well just scroll on down and take a look for yourself!
Scritches. Scratches. What's the difference? Well, scratches are those lines of damage when you drop your phone, and scritches are what you give a cat on top of its head or under the chin.
So, now we all know! Scritches is the correct term to use when giving a kitty (or other animals) some fingernail love.
Today, we're going to let you into a secret that saves your life from wild animals (and non-wild animals)... and that foolproof method is scritches. No animal can resist a good scritch!
Don't believe us? Check it out for yourself!
Over the past 12 years, India has nearly doubled its tiger population! Did you know that Tigers in India hold up to 70% of the world's tiger population? How wild is that!
In honor of International Tiger Day, Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister, released a report about the current status of Tigers in India. His report states, "In 1973, there were just nine tiger reserves which have now increased to 50. It is important to know that none of these reserves are of poor quality. Either they are good or the best."
Three tiger reverses (out of 50 reserves) shared in 2018 that they have no tigers left. The reserve with the most tiger population is Corbett at 231 tigers, followed by Nagarhole with 127 and Bandipore with 126 tigers.
Check out some gorgeous tigers from India's Tiger Reserves below:
Story via Business Insider
Many of you recall the heartbreaking story of Tahlequah, the orca whose love and actions for her dead calf was seen around the world.
Almost to this day two years ago, this devoted mother lost her baby calf and was so heartbroken, she kept her calf afloat for 17 days as she continuously carried it. It was a heartbreaking sight and it's a moment we can never forget. Whoever says animals don't have emotions -- you tell them Tahlequah's story.
And now, two years after those gut-wrenching 17 days, Tahlequah is officially pregnant once again! This orca was obviously a born-to-be mother and we're so incredibly happy for her and her second chance at motherhood.
According to Seattle Times, Tahlequah is still a ways away from a successful birth, and like all orcas, she will be requiring luck on her side to bring her baby into this world, and keep it alive.
We wish her all the best.
The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) holds a photography competition once a year and recently, they have announced the 2020 winning images.
2020 has been a challenging year for zoos and aquariums around the world who had to deal with the financial impacts of closures as well as taking care of the animals in times of social distancing and loneliness.
The winning images of the competition, only open to zoo or aquarium staff and volunteers, have managed to capture incredible behind the scene moments from the daily routine of animals and staff alike.
Judge and BIAZA spokesperson Andrew Hall said: "Every day our zoos and aquariums are sharing the extraordinary beauty and fragility of the natural world and this is evident in the incredible winning photos."
Up till now, zookeepers and veterinaries who wanted to monitor vital signs or do regular health checkups for wild animals had to use specialized equipment while sedating them and disturbing their daily routine.
But now, a new promising camera software offers a non-abusive way to do that without the need for anesthetics.
Story Via: Phys.org
Animals make our worlds an easier and better place to live in, giving us reason to pause and smile and — in some cases — serving as true companions and friends.
Prepare your heart: These incredible images of birds, reptiles, primates, and more will restore your wonder in the world.
Here's a link to our previous list of amazing animal photos
Shaaz Jung is an Indian wildlife photographer and Cinematographer who specializes in capturing the great moments of big cats.
In the following photo series, he provides us with a fascinating glimpse into the life of one beautiful black panther in the jungles of Kabini.
Meet the adorable rescued baby black bear -- Casper! Casper was abandoned as a very young cub, thankfully the wonderful team at Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, Canada, rescued him and nourished him before his release back into the wild.
When Casper was 1 month old, he was introduced to another rescued cub named Dudley. At first, Casper didn't want anything to do with Dudley but we're happy that didn't last too long because Caper and Dudley playing together is just the sweetest thing!
It wasn't long before the pair became inseparable. Watch their story below!
Story via Little But Fierce
Be still our tender hearts! There is absolutely nothing more precious than when two different animal species become best friends!
During the COVID-19 lockdown at the Australian Wildlife Park, a koala named, Elsa, and a wombat named, Hope, shared an enclosure together.
It was during that time that they two struck up the most adorable friendship. They're now being called, "lockdown BFFs." The two marsupials were hand raised by the keepers at the Australia Reptile Park, wombats are actually the closest relative species to the koala, so their keepers figured it would be a friendship match in heaven... they were right.
Now that the park has re-opened, the keepers are making sure that the two are able to see each other every day!
