Bart’s Animal Cam Roundup

Animal rescue organizations are typically known for their work with pets, but that’s not all they do. Some work with wild animals to make sure they’re safe and cared for. Zoos and other animal rescue groups focused on wild animals often use an animal cam to share  antics with the public and as an education tool. Bart the Dumpster Dog loves to watch his animal kingdom friends having fun. Here are some of his favorite webcams.

Elephants – The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has some very active African elephants.. Bart can’t get enough of watching them playing, bathing, and eating. His favorite, though, is when he tunes in during bath time. Those long trunks spouting water make Bart laugh. These elephants were saved from culling by an animal rescue group who brought them to zoos in San Diego and Florida. Below the camera feed you can read a short bio of each of the twelve members of the elephant herd.

Bears- Bears kind of resemble big, furry dogs, so Bart gets a kick out of watching the bear cam at the Woodland Park Zoo. The bears in this exhibit are two brown (aka grizzly) bear brothers. The brown bear is considered endangered and the zoo hopes their exhibit and this camera will protect them from further population decline. Bart wishes to thank the wild animal rescue organizations who contributed to make this exhibit possible.

Apes – Bart’s heard that apes are a close relative of humans like his mom, but watching the Kansas City Zoo Orang Cam, he’s not really sure about that. He does love to watch them play and swing on their long arms and legs. They’re pretty good at solving problems too. Many of the apes currently at the zoo were rescued from private facilities that didn’t have the best interests of the animal in mind. They’re not able to live in the wild so the Zoo worked with animal rescue groups to provide them with safe homes.

Polar Bears – With global warming shrinking their natural habitat, Bart is really happy that the polar bears on the San Diego Zoo’s webcam are safe and well cared for. Living in a zoo is nothing like living out on the ice floes, but they get plenty of food and medical attention. Bart loves to watch them gnaw on wood and prowl around their living area. He thanks the zoo for their efforts to raise awareness of the environmental dangers facing these awesome white bears.

Pandas – The Giant Pandas at the National Zoo are among Bart’s favorite because they’re so peaceful to watch. Sadly, pandas are very close to extinction. Many zoos in the U.S. are working tirelessly with other wild animal rescue groups to bring the numbers of pandas living in the wild back to safe levels. For now, the three pandas Bart watches on the webcam have a safe home with lots of bamboo and climbing areas.

Koalas – Koalas look so cuddly. At least Bart thinks so when he watches them on the San Diego Zoo’s Koala cam. He’s learned, however, that Koalas can be pretty violent and mean when they’re fighting each other – they like to be alone. So, he watches from the safety of his mom’s computer. They sleep a lot, but when Bart’s lucky enough to catch them eating, he enjoys watching them strip the eucalyptus leaves and chew them with their soft mouths.

Apes – Bart’s heard that apes are a close relative of humans like his mom, but watching the Kansas City Zoo Orang Cam, he’s not really sure about that. He does love to watch them play and swing on their long arms and legs. They’re pretty good at solving problems too. Many of the apes currently at the zoo were rescued from private facilities that didn’t have the best interests of the animal in mind. They’re not able to live in the wild so the Zoo worked with animal rescue groups to provide them with safe homes.

Bald Eagles – Bart definitely can’t fly, and doesn’t really want to, but he does admire the soaring heights Bald Eagles can reach. These bald eagles just had baby eaglets. They also just so happen to be in Washington D.C. so the American Eagle Foundation named the parents Mr. President and Mrs. First Lady. The American Eagle Foundation, while not a traditional animal rescue group, is committed to caring for and protecting Bald Eagles and other birds of prey. Bart is grateful for their efforts and groups like them.

Penguins – Bart thinks penguins are really funny. They can’t fly, eat fish, and make strange squawking sounds. The Penguin Cam at the Monterey Bay Aquarium where Bart can learn a lot more about these flightless birds. The penguins featured are African penguins – much more warm tolerant than their Arctic dwelling cousins. Bart thinks the best part of the video is when the handlers come in to feed the penguins and give a talk to visitors. He always learns a lot and it’s funny to watch the penguins gulp down the fish in one bite.

Sharks – Even though Bart thinks swimming with sharks would be pretty scary, he does like to watch their graceful forms slide through the water. He admits, their effortless movements make him a little jealous. The California Academy of Sciences’ shark cam shows 19 different species of sharks. In addition to educating the public about these amazing animals, the Academy acts as an animal rescue for these sharks, seeking to prevent shark-finning. Bart’s happy about that mission since he’s pretty sure having fins cut off hurts the sharks.

Puppies – Sometimes, after a long day, Bart likes to check in on his own species. One of his favorite ways to do this is watching the Service Dog Project’s indoor puppy room. The Service Dog Project raises Great Danes from birth through graduation. The dogs live on the 12-acre property in Massachusetts and receive special training to help individuals with Multiple Sclerosis, Friedreich’s ataxia, and veterans with disabilities. Training is unique to the needs of the dog’s human match. Bart is proud of his dog buddies for this great service they provide and thankful to the owners and trainers who make this possible.