Experience a virtual wildlife safari from the comfort of your couch

The finalists for the 2020 The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are here and are hilarious. Check out how these hilarious captures of life in the wild. Here are the top 44 finalists from across the world (Image: © Copyright 2020 The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards)

‘Not all those who wander are lost’. Much before a virus shut down the world, author JRR Tolkien spoke of the human need to wander, to explore, to set foot on new ground. But for months now, no one is wandering. Like caged birds, our wings have been clipped, our feet tied to the threshold of our homes. That thrill of a midnight safari, the walk in the jungle, the hoot of the owl, the trill of the mynah, the roar of a majestic lion seem like forgotten dreams.

Thankfully, technology has stepped in as our travel partner. Lounging inside our homes, we can still travel virtually. Here are a few easily accessible virtual wildlife experiences.

New South Wales (Australia)

New South Wales was one of the first regions to bring animals into our living rooms. Its Zoom-ready assets include stargazing in the Southern Hemisphere’s first Dark Sky Park in the Warrumbungles, sea life frolicking underwater along the NSW Coast from Tweed Heads to Narooma, breakfast with Coffs Harbour kangaroos, penguins on Montague Island. Not only that one can talk to Wombats at Symbio Wildlife Park, Central Coast, Meerkats at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Kangaroos in Mungo National Park, Fur seals near Montague Island off the coast of Narooma and a mob of emus in Sturt National Park, Tibooburra.

And if you like reptiles, watch streaming sessions of Australian Reptile Park.

“Travel might be postponed, but dreaming about travelling is definitely encouraged via our Zoom-ready assets,” said Stephen Mahoney, Acting CEO, Destination NSW.

Website:  www.visitnsw.com/love-nsw/zoom

Vienna (Austria)

From the comfort of your couch not only do you get to know the oeuvre of Gustav Klimt, or go on a tour through the vaults of the Capuchin Crypt (Imperial Crypt), where the Habsburgs lie buried but you can also walk through Vienna’s various wildlife attractions. Turn your visit to Schönbrunn Zoo into a voyage of discovery with the free Zoo Adventuresapp. Best-selling author Thomas Brezina takes visitors behind the scenes in videos and photos, narrates some fascinating stories and lets you in on some animal keepers’ secrets. Pick between Dangerous Animals tour and My Favourite Animals that tells you how to scrub a hippo’s back, pedicures for elephants, and how much meat does a tiger every day.

Website: https://www.zoovienna.at/en/zoo-and-visitors/app-zoo-adventures/

Japan

Jigokudani Monkey Park: A sanctuary in Nagano is famous for wild snow monkeys’ love of onsen (hot spring).The park has two cameras each aimed at a different spot in the facility so that you can watch monkeys frolicking in hot springs.

Website: http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/livecam2/video_en.php

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo: On the zoo’s animal video page, you can walk in virtually into the living quarters of snow monkeys, giraffes, beavers, hippos, and wolves.

Website: https://www.sapporo.travel/find/recreational/maruyama_zoo/?lang=en

Ikebukuro’s Sunshine Aquarium: During daily educational Instagram live videos, the staff introduce you to the different marine animals at the aquarium - jellyfish to penguins (in Japanese only, though).

National Parks, USA: More than 100 virtual tours of National Park Service locations are available on Google Arts and Culture. Some favourites include Yellowstone National Park (for miles and miles of beautiful views), Kenai Fjords National Park (for an icy adventure) and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (for lots of lava).

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador): Embark on a guided video tour of the incredible wildlife and culture of the Galapagos with National Geographic Expeditions.Experience incredible 360-degree footage of the legendary Galápagos Islands and encounter unique wildlife up close. Explore these remote islands and discover one of the most unspoiled natural wonders in the world.

Website: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/get-inspired/galapagos/galapagos-360-video/

Victoria (Australia)

Watch a gluttony of Australasian Gannets and a gulp of Black-faced Cormorants roost on Pope's Eye within the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park in Victoria; go underwater with reef cam; walk through the Royal Botanic Garden; watch dolphins gambol on Port Philip Bay.

If you're missing sport as much as wildlife, this commentary from Andrew Cotter on Phillip Island Nature Parks' penguin parade is sure to make your day (https://www.facebook.com/PhillipIslandNatureParks/videos/2154973627981700/)

Websites: https://www.zoo.org.au/animals-at-home 

www.natureaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/our-priorities/oceans/ocean-stories/reef-cam-underwater

www.youtube.com/ParksVictoria

Lake Bogoria (Kenya)

From far, the lake looks pink. No, the water is not pink. Two million flamingos give the lake its iconic colour. Watch them balance on their spindly legs and turn the fly together turning the sky pink as well.

Website: https://www.airpano.com/360photo/Flamingos-Lake-Bogoria-Kenia/

Thailand

Thailand offers 3D Virtual Tours of 10 destinations - mostly on the fringes - sprawled across the country’s 9 destinations. When you click a destination link on your screen, you will have a 360-degree view and can walk around by using your cursor.

Website: https://www.tourismthailand.org/Articles/virtual-tours-thailand

Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (Washington, DC)

The zoo is temporarily closed but you can still walk through and know all about how and why did Zoo staff and Smithsonian museum specialists engineer a 3-D printed beak for Karl, the Zoo's male Abyssinian ground hornbill? How scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are trying to save maned wolves through matchmaking? Through Giant Panda Cam, watch Tian Tian (Adult male born on August 27, 1997) and Mei Xiang (Adult female born on July 22, 1998)gorging themselves on bamboo shoots. Behold a brunch between a sloth and a golden lion tamarin, catch a close-up of newborn black-footed ferret kits.

Websites: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/self-guided-zoo-tour-english

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/bringing-zoo-you-may-2020

Did you know?

• Dating 3500 BC, the world’s first zoo was in Hierakonpolis (Egypt) had a menagerie of 112 animals (Source: Guinness World Records).
• According to Guinness World Records, the oldest known breed of domesticated dog goes all the way back to 329 BC. Saluki dogs were revered in ancient Egypt, being kept as royal pets and being mummified after death.
• Chessington World of Adventures in the United Kingdom has banned visitors from wearing animal print clothing. The zoo officials believe that animal clothing confuses 1,000 animals on its grounds.Banned prints include: zebra, giraffe, leopard, cheetah, tiger, spotted hyena, striped hyena, and African wild dog.
• Do not dismiss the housefly. Listen to its sound - the pest buzzes in an F key.
• The sound of the raptor noises in the film Jurassic Park are actually sound of mating tortoises. The Gallimimus flock was voiced by squealing female horses on heat while Tyrannosaurus Rex was voiced by Buster, a Jack Russel terrier, owned by Gary Rydstrom, the 1993 film’s sound designer.