NataliaCara

This adorable armadillo was rescued from illegal trafficking and now lives at a Wildlife Refuge. She doesn't interact much with people, but she is very curious and wanted to smell all the other animals the caretaker had been working with! The illegal wildlife trade is the third most valuable illicit commerce in the world, losing only to drugs and weapons. That, along with loss of habitat by deforestation, fires, etc., results in an enormous amount of animals in need of rescuing. Only 1 in 10 animals survive trafficking! Do not support the pet trade! Animals should be free! The Six-banded Armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus), also known as Yellow Armadillo, is the only member of the genus Euphractus, but there are five recognized subspecies: the Euphractus sexcintus boliviae, which occurs in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina; the Euphractus sexcinctus flavimanus, from Mato Grosso, Brazil, through eastern Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina; the Euphractus sexcinctus setosus, in extreme southeastern Brazil; the Euphractus sexcinctus sexcinctus, from southern Suriname through the northern Brazilian states of Pará and Amapá; and the Euphractus sexcinctus tucumanus, in Catamarca and Tucumán Provinces of Argentina. The Six-banded Armadillo is omnivorous, and its diet includes carrion, small vertebrates, insects, and plant matter, such as fruit, tubers and palm nuts. It inhabits several biomes, including the Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal, Chaco and the Atlantic Forest, being found in open areas, savannas, shrubland and dry, semi-deciduous forest, as well secondary forests, and primary Amazonian forest, and it can also adapt well to habitat modifications, and it can be observed in plantations, sugar cane plantations, pasturelands, and areas with subsistence agriculture. The Yellow Armadillo is primarily solitary, except for breeding and the case of mother and young, and will congregate only to feed on carrion. They are territorial and live in self-dug burrows, which have a single, inverted, u-shaped entrance. Territories are marked with the use of scent glands, which are located at the base of the tail. Breeding occurs throughout the year, and the female usually gives birth to a litter of one to three babies.

This adorable young jaguar, unfortunately, had to grow up without her mother, which means that she became very accustomed to people. She loves to get attention, but that doesn't mean she can be trusted. Jaguars are not pets. They are wild animals, and even when humanized, they still have that wild nature inside. It's OK to give her a scratch through the fence, as long as you watch your fingers, but nobody goes in with her. This is a temporary enclosure, while the big ones were under maintenance. The Jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest cat species in the American continent, and the third largest in the world. It shares the Panthera genus with four other big cats: the Lion (Panthera leo), the Tiger (Panthera tigris), the Leopard (Panthera pardus) and the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia). It has a stocky body and short, thick and powerful limbs, making the jaguar a great climber and swimmer. The proportionally bigger head grants it an extremely powerful jaw, being able to bite through any prey and drag it. Although the jaguar is often confused with the leopard, it is considerably sturdier and heavier than its African cousin, and it has a rounder head. The rosettes are also different, being larger, sometimes darker, and fewer in number; the contours are thicker and there is a small spot in the center. Each animal has a unique coat pattern, like fingerprints. The head and neck generally have solid spots instead of rosettes; and the same happens on the tail, where they may merge and form a ring. Females are usually 10 to 20% smaller than males, but the smallest male recorded weighed only 36 Kg, and the largest male 158 Kg. Sizes vary according to regions and habitats. The largest jaguars occur in open flood plains areas, in Venezuela and Brazil, and the smallest jaguars are found in the dense forests of Central America.

This adorable baby manatee was found beached when he was just a little baby and had to be rescued and cared for at a marine mammal rehabilitation center, and hopefully, will be released back into the ocean once he is old enough. He is still very young, so he is just starting to eat his solids. He gets bottle-fed five times a day, with a special formula prepared specifically to meet all his nutritional needs. Animals in captivity need to be fed a balanced diet, to ensure they receive all the nutrients they need to stay healthy, so now he is also given a banana a day, along with a bit of seaweed, grass and other vegetables. As he grows, he'll start eating more solids and drinking less formula, until he is ready to be weaned, around 3 years old. He still hasn't quite gotten the hang of eating the banana yet, and struggles a bit to catch it, which is absolutely adorable! The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is the largest species of Sirenians alive. The Sirenia order also includes the Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis) and the African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). The West Indian Manatee is currently divided into two subspecies, the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and the Antillean Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), although recent data indicates three separate lineages: one in Florida and the Greater Antilles; another in Western and Southern Gulf of Mexico, Central America, and Northwestern South America, West of the Lesser Antilles; and the third one on Northeastern South America, East of the Lesser Antilles. Evidence indicates that there might be hybridization with the Amazonian Manatee, in some areas near the mouth of the Amazon. In 2017 the West Indian Manatee’s status has been downgraded from endangered to threatened, but it's essential to have stronger emphasis on preserving and restoring warm water habitats, and increase the reports of manatee boat strikes, in order to sustain this progress.

Grooming is such an important part of social bonding among primates, that this little rescued vervet monkey couldn't resist when she saw me grooming this rescued blue monkey! These monkeys lost their mothers when they were very young, and are being rehabilitated at a Wildlife Center, where they'll stay until they have found a troop of their own, and can be released back into the wild. The Blue Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis), also known as Samango, belongs to the Cercopithecidae family of Old World Monkeys, the largest of all primate families, comprising 138 species of primates. The family includes the mandrill, drill, baboons, colobus, macaques, among many others. The genus Cercopithecus, generally referred to as Guenons, comprises 26 species, and 17 subspecies of Blue Monkey are recognized: Cercopithecus mitis opisthostictus, Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii, Cercopithecus mitis albogularis, Cercopithecus mitis albotorquatus, Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni, Cercopithecus mitis doggetti, Cercopithecus mitis moloneyi, Cercopithecus mitis heymansi, Cercopithecus mitis erythrarchus, Cercopithecus mitis zammaronoi, Cercopithecus mitis kolbi, Cercopithecus mitis monoides, Cercopithecus mitis mitis, Cercopithecus mitis kandti, Cercopithecus mitis francescae, Cercopithecus mitis schoutedeni and Cercopithecus mitis labiatus. This species is widespread across Central, Southern and East Africa. It can be found in many different types of forest, such as lowland and montane tropical moist forest, riverine and gallery forest, delta forest, bamboo forest, sand forest, and even secondary forest, logged forest and thickets. Blue Monkeys are diurnal and arboreal, and live in groups of up to 40 individuals. They may form alliances with other monkey species, for added protection. They are mostly frugivorous and folivorous, so their diet consists mostly of fruits and leaves, but they also feed on slugs and worms. In spite of being widespread, this species suffers from habitat loss and hunting. The Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) is an Old World monkey, which means that it belongs to the Cercopithecidae family, the largest of all primate families, comprising 138 species of primates. The term "vervet" is used to refer to all members of the Chlorocebus genus, although it is still debated whether there are several species or only one, with several subspecies. They are native to the African continent, and can be found as far north as Egypt, and as far south as South Africa. They occupy savanna, open woodland, and forest-grassland mosaic, preferably close to rivers, being generally absent from desert areas and deep forest. It's a common and abundant species; flexible and easily adapted to secondary and highly fragmented vegetation, including cultivated areas and rural and urban environments, where it is often considered a pest, which gets them hunted and shot, causing many babies to become orphaned. In some areas, they become bushmeat. Vervet Monkeys live in large troops of up to 38 individuals, with one dominant male. The females are usually related to one another, but many unrelated males may be present. With a life-span of 10 to 11 years, females become sexually mature at age four, and males at age five. They breed from April to June, and a single offspring is born five months later.

This adorable meerkat is only six months old and used to be kept as a pet until her owner realized that's not a good idea. Now, being very used to people, she just loves the attention! The meerkat (Suricata suricatta), also known as suricate, is the sole member of the Suricata genus, but it shares the Herpestidae family with 30 species of mongoose from Africa and Southern Eurasia, and four species of dwarf mongoose. Although there is only one species of meerkat, three subspecies are currently recognized: Suricata suricatta suricatta, in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa; Suricata suricatta majoriae, in the Kalahari; and Suricata suricatta iona, in southwestern Angola. Meerkats are small burrowing carnivores, feeding mostly on small invertebrates, and live in large underground networks that have multiple entrances. They are very social animals that live in large colonies called clans, which usually consist of about twenty animals, but can have up to 50 members or more. Meerkats are known for sharing burrows with Yellow Mongoose and Ground Squirrel. To ensure the safety of the clan, some individuals serve as lookouts, standing on their rear legs and gazing alertly over the plains, watching for predators such as birds of prey. When a predator is spotted, the sentries give a warning bark or whistle, and the other meerkats run and hide in one of the many entrances they have spread across their territory. Meerkats have different alarm calls depending on which predator was spotted. It is a widespread species in western parts of southern Africa, from north and west South Africa, to southwestern Botswana, western and southern Namibia, and the extreme southwestern Angola. It is possible that it occurs in Lesotho as well, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. It is absent from true desert, forests, and mountainous terrain, inhabiting arid, open country, with short grasses and sparse woody growth.

Although being hand-reared got this baby Striped Hyena very accustomed to humans, there was something about this one particular person that she just didn't trust, making her hide and act in a defensive manner, making the most adorable sounds. It's true that her hiding place is far from ideal, but the two chairs helped making her feel safer. As soon as the person left the area, she started behaving normally again. Although there once was a large number of hyena species, nowadays there are only four extant species in the Hyaenidae family. The Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) shares the Hyaena genus with one other species, the Brown Hyena (Hyaena brunnea), although the latter has been placed in the Parahyaena genus in the past. The Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is the largest of them all. The small Aardwolf (Proteles cristata), in spite of belonging to the Hyaenidae family, is not considered a true hyena. The Striped Hyena is the smallest of the true hyenas. In the Summer, the coat is much shorter and coarser than during the Winter, and lacks underfur, but the mane remains large. It is a nocturnal animal that typically lives alone or in pairs, being monogamous, although groups of up to seven individuals have been recorded. Unlike the other members of the Hyaenidae family, that occur only in the African continent, the Striped Hyena can be found in the Middle East, the Caucasus and central Asia, as well as in most of west Africa, and most of the Sahara, split into many isolated populations. Although hyenas might somewhat resemble dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats, belonging to the Feliformia suborder, along with mongoose, meerkat, fossa, civet, genet, etc. Striped Hyenas are listed as Near Threatened, having a wider distribution range than the other members of their family, however, very little is known about their status and ecology.

These macaws are some of the two hundred parrots that were rescued after being taken from the wild to be illegally sold in the black market. Considering that only 1 in 10 animals survive trafficking, you can imagine how many have died so that people could have them in their homes. They now live in a large aviary, at a rescue center, where they live the best life they can under the circumstances, but it will never be like it was supposed to. This macaw, in particular, absolutely loves taking a bath and does so in an adorable and funny way every time the pool gets cleaned and gets re-filled. The other ones enjoy it, but this one has the time of its life! The Blue-and-gold Macaw (Ara ararauna), also known as Blue-and-yellow Macaw, is a South American species that inhabits forests, woodland, and savannah of Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Paraguay. It can also be found in a small area of Panama. It shares the Ara genus with seven other extant species: the Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus), the Red-and-green Macaw (Ara chloroptera), the Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis), the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), the Military Macaw (Ara militaris), the Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys), and the Chestnut-fronted Macaw (Ara severa). Parrots, macaws, parakeets, and parrotlets belong to the Psittacidae family, the one with the most species at risk of extinction of all the bird families. In the last few centuries, several species have gone extinct. All species are found in tropical and subtropical zones. Psittacids are some of the most intelligent birds, with a highly developed brain, and can imitate all sorts of sounds. Some species can live for over fifty years. They generally mate for life, choosing their partner when they are still young, and share chores, preparing the nest together. The male feeds the female while she is nesting, and they both care for the chicks.

Sometimes, even when they are already as perfect as this little one, something happens that keeps sea turtle embryos from reaching that final stage of their development. Sometimes it can even be as simple as the tide reaching the nest; that can be enough to keep them from being born. Thankfully, most of its siblings made it out of the nest! We find these little ones, still attached to the egg yolk, when we check the nests after all the others have already hatched, for conservation purposes. Sea Turtle hatchlings usually come out between the last and the first hours of the day, when the temperatures are nicer and they won't overheat, however, on cloudy/rainy days, they can come out at any time. Sea Turtles spend a few days inside the nest, after hatching. First, they absorb what's left of the yolk sac and wait for their plastron to straighten out, and then it can take up to 48 hours for them to surface, buried alive during that whole time... And then they emerge, and find themselves in a completely different world... A world only the females who reach adulthood will see again... And then it begins, the long crawl towards their new life... When they hatch, sea turtles crawl to the ocean, where the survivors spend the rest of their lives. Males never go back to land, but females have to, so that they can nest. They find their way back to the same beach where they hatched, decades later, then crawl up the beach, usually when it is dark, and when they find the perfect spot, the digging begins. It can take a whole hour to dig a nest, then lay the eggs, cover it up, and make sure nobody finds it, because that is all the parental care they are going to get: making sure the eggs are as safe as possible before the mother goes back to the ocean. The one video is an Olive Ridley, the second smallest species, but the most abundant one, although it is listed as a Vulnerable species.

This absolutely adorable miniature petrel is a Wilson's Storm Petrel that had to be rescued and taken to a marine life rehabilitation center and still hasn't learned how to feed itself under these new circumstances, so the rehabbers have to insert the tiny bits of fish directly into its beak. Needless to say, they are all in love with it, I mean, just look at that face! Although most people have never seen, or even heard of a Wilson's Storm Petrel, it is one of the most abundant bird species in the world, with a world population estimated to be over 50 million pairs. It is a very difficult bird to see from land, once it is strictly pelagic outside the breeding season, and has remote breeding sites. The Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) breeds on the Antarctic coastlines and nearby islands during the Southern Summer. It moves into the northern oceans in the Southern Winter. It is a lot more common in the North Atlantic Ocean than in the Pacific. The Wilson's Storm Petrel belongs to the Oceanitidae family, along with four other genera of Austral Storm Petrels, also known as Southern Storm Petrels, and shares the Oceanites genus with two other species: the Elliot's Storm Petrel (Oceanites gracilis), and the Pincoya Storm Petrel (Oceanites pincoyae). Austral Storm Petrels are the smallest of all seabird species. The Wilson's Storm Petrel reaches a maximum of 18.5 cm (7.3 in) in length. It flies low over the surface of the sea, like most other small petrels, pattering it as it picks up plankton, but it has a more direct gliding flight than the other species. The wings are often held high to achieve this unique fluttering and hovering flight, and it can soar even in calm weather, by making use of the slight breeze produced by the waves, while using its feet to stabilize itself. It rarely dives to capture prey.

This video was shot while researching whales with the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS), for conservation purposes. Whales must be admired from a safe distance, and must not be approached, this way we can avoid accidents and stress for the animals. The Humpback Whale is probably the most well-known whale, as it is perfect for whale-watching, displaying many aerial behaviors on its breeding grounds, such as breaching. On their feeding grounds, such as in the video, they are a lot more discrete. It is one of the larger species in the world, with adults ranging from 12–16 m (39–52 ft) in length, and weighing around 25–30 metric tons (28–33 short tons). It has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins, and a hump on its dorsal fin, which gives it its name. The head and lower jaw are covered with knobs called tubercles, which are actually hair follicles, characteristic of this species. The fluke is almost always displayed when the animal dives, and it has wavy trailing edges and a pattern that is unique to each animal. The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is the sole member of the Megaptera genus, but it shares the Balaenopteridae family with the Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the Omura's Whale (Balaenoptera oomurai), the Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera brydei), the Eden's Whale (Balaenoptera edeni), the Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis), the Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and the Antarctic Minke Whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). These are called Rorquals, the largest group of all baleen whales. Baleen whales, called Mysticeti, have filter-feeding system in their mouths instead of teeth. Baleen is similar to bristles, and are made of keratin, such fingernails, skin, hair, and horns, and are arranged in plates, attached to the upper jaw, being absent in the mid-jaw, forming two separate combs of baleen. They decrease in size as they go further back into the jaw.

These coatis used to be kept as pets at a very young age. But in spite of having been legally bought, coatis are still wild animals, and make terrible pets, even though they extremely cute and makes you want to cuddle them. So, after a little while, their owner realized that was a really bad idea, donating them to an institute that could care for them properly. But those animals, growing up as pets, could not be released, for they are now humanized, and are no longer afraid of people. So they started being used for educational purposes, so that students could learn how to properly handle wildlife, but in order to do that, they would have to not attack the students handling them, which, for a coati, is a lot to ask. So their caretaker had to sit with them, every day, for them to get accustomed to it, and cooperate, otherwise they would simply be animals in captivity. And, well… they absolutely loved her shoes! Coatis look extremely adorable, and they are, as long as you do (and let them do) whatever they and want! Otherwise, they can be vicious! You can see the one in the video acting super cute and playing like a dog, but do not be mistaken, they are nothing like dogs! South American Coatis (Nasua nasua) are very energetic animals, and extremely curious! They spend most of their time exploring, climbing, while looking for food or anything else they can steal, causing trouble in the process! They don't take no for an answer, and will climb on people and search every inch of them, trying to find something they consider interesting! They have a very similar personality to raccoons, members of the same family (Procyonidae). The family is also shared with Olingos, Oliguito, Kinkajou, Ringtail, Cacomistle, as well as other species of coati.

This adorable young Tayra had to be rescued, so now he depends on his caretakers to feed him. Animals in captivity need neural and physical stimulation in order to reduce stress and enhance their well-being; it's called environmental enrichment. Hiding the animal's food around the enclosure is one way to do it, keeping the animal busy, looking for it. The Tayra (Eira Barbara), is the sole member of its genus, but shares the Mustelidae family with over 50 other species, such as otters, weasels, ferrets, badgers, martens, polecats, grisons, and minks. It resembles its arctic cousin, the Wolverine (Gulo gulo). The Tayra is native to the Americas, and is currently split into nine subspecies: Eira barbara barbara, in southern and central Brazil, western Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina; Eira barbara inserta, from central Costa Rica to southern Guatemala; Eira barbara madeirensis, from northern Brazil to western Ecuador; Eira barbara peruana, from Bolivia to the Peruvian Andes; Eira barbara poliocephala, from northeastern Brazil to the Guianas and eastern Venezuela; Eira barbara senex, from northern Honduras to central Mexico; Eira barbara sinuensis, from Panama to western Venezuela and Colombia; Eira barbara biologiae; Eira barbara senilis. It is an arboreal animal, although it also uses the forest floor. It is mostly diurnal, but sometimes crepuscular. It is solitary and it can travel long distances within its home range. It is an opportunistic animal, hunting small mammals such as rodents, but also birds, lizards, and invertebrates, as well as climbing trees to get fruit and steal honey. The Tayra is found mostly in tropical and subtropical forests, secondary rain forests, gallery forests, cloud forests, but also in dry scrub forests, gardens, and plantations, and it does well in agricultural areas and near human settlements. They live in tree hollows or burrows in the ground. The destruction of its habitat is the Tayra's biggest threat, forcing it to live closer and closer to humans.

This two-month-old Golden Bengal Tiger might be little, but she's got quite the personality! Cubs love to play, and she is no different, and everything becomes a game. Every baby animal is cute, and cats in particular, so it's no surprise that she looks absolutely adorable, and one could spend hours just looking at her… Did you know that, even though that are quite a few "types" of tigers, they all belong to the species, Panthera tigris? Nine subspecies were confirmed based on distinctive molecular markers: Amur/Siberian (Panthera tigris altaica), Northern Indochinese (Panthera tigris corbetti), Malayan (Panthera tigris jacksoni), Sumatran (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Bengal (Panthera tigris tigris) and South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) still exist, and Bali (Panthera tigris balica), Javan (Panthera tigris sondaica) and Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgate) are now extinct. The Bengal Tiger usually have the classic orange "tiger look", but recessive genes can change color mutations, like the white Bengal tiger and the golden Bengal tiger, as seen in this video. So in spite of being different colors, they are all Bengal Tigers (Panthera tigris tigris). Golden tigers, however, tend to be larger and have a softer fur. Tigers are native to Asia, and can currently be found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, and Thailand, even though they used to occur in many other countries. They occur mainly in the forests of tropical Asia, although historically they used to be found in drier and colder climes. Tigers are solitary and territorial animals. A male's territory will usually overlap with the territories of three females, but females' rarely overlap with each other. After a century of decline, the numbers of individuals in the wild is finally starting to increase, but the species is still listed as endangered species, being at risk of extinction.

Believe it or not, this huge Elephant Seal is only a pup, at not even two months of age. It was found in a port, most likely not long after it was weaned; malnourished and hypothermic, it had to be rescued and taken to a rescue center for marine animals, where it has to stay until it is fat and healthy enough to be returned to the ocean. For now, he enjoys a nice scratch while sunbathing. How cute is that?! The Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) is the largest species of pinnipeds, and have a striking sexual dimorphism, with males being 8 to 10 times larger than females. Males have been recorded to weigh up to 3700 Kg, whereas females weigh between 400 and 800 Kg, making it the most sexually dimorphic of all mammal species. It has an extensive range and breeding sites are on islands around the sub-Antarctic, although sometimes the pups might be born on mainland Antarctica. When not ashore, they inhabit most of the Southern Ocean. There are four genetically distinct populations around the globe: the Southern Pacific Ocean, the South Atlantic, the Southern Indian Ocean, and the Peninsula Valdes population in Argentina. They spend over 80% of the time in the water, making long migrations to better foraging areas to feed intensively in order to build up the blubber stores required to support them during breeding and molting haulouts. They have developed the ability to dive to depths of over 1500 m, for as long as 120 minutes, to prey on deep-water squid and fish. In the Antarctic, juvenile males stay within the pack ice to forage, and similar behavior is observed on juvenile males on the Patagonian shelf. The breeding cycle begins with the largest males hauling out on deserted beaches in August, and then pregnant females haul out, giving birth 2 to 5 days after arriving. The females stay with their pup during the lactation period, fasting. The pups weigh between 30 and 40 kg at birth, but by the time they wean, 23 to 25 days later, they weigh approximately 120 to 130 kg.

The Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is known worldwide appearing on movies and tv shows, and being the main attraction of many dolphinariums. They are classic bow riders, often approaching powered vessels, and surf in all kind of waves. Riding a wave or a wake, they can go almost twice as fast while using the same energy cost. They are acrobats, often leaping clear of the surface of the water, which combined with their intelligence, curiosity, and energy, have make them extremely popular to perform in oceanariums. But in spite of leaping being a natural behavior, often observed in the while, that doesn't mean it is always successful. In the video, two Common Bottlenose Dolphins can be observed leaping – or trying to -, but without taking into consideration that there were other dolphins around them. The first one jumps beautifully out of the water, but its landing is not as beautiful, as another dolphin surfaces right on that spot, causing an unfortunate collision! It's a cosmopolitan dolphin, occurring in oceans and peripheral seas in tropical and temperate latitudes, occupying many habitats, from coastal to pelagic waters. It is possibly the most adaptable of all cetacean species. In many inshore areas, the dolphins maintain definable, long-term, multi-generational home ranges, but in locations that are near the extremes of the species’ range, they are migratory. Offshore populations tend to be less restricted in range and movement. Offshore individuals usually have larger and darker bodies, but with smaller flippers. They occur in pods that can vary in size. The habitat influences the size of the groups. Those that live in bays form groups of 2 to 15 individuals, whereas animals that live offshore may form groups of tens or even hundreds of animals. They also often associate with many other species of cetaceans, such as Pilot Whales.

This adorable penguin had to be rescued and rehabilitated; unfortunately, in the process, it became too humanized and tame, making it impossible to be released back into the wild, so it will have to spend the rest of its life in captivity. However, it receives the best possible care and lives with other unreleasable penguins, and loves its caretakers. Every once in a while, it gets to go for a walk around the rescue center, which it absolutely loves! How adorable is that?! The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is also known as South African Penguin, Cape Penguin, Black-footed Penguin, and Jackass Penguin. It shares the Spheniscus genus with three other species: the Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), the Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti), and the Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus). All four species have similar coloration, but the African Penguin cannot be mistaken by any of the other three in the wild, as it is confined to southern African waters, whereas the other species are found in South America. With the exception of the Galapagos Penguin, which is found north of the Equator, all penguin species live in the Southern Hemisphere. Because penguins are flightless birds who spend a large portion of their time in the water, their wings have been modified into flippers, to make them better swimmers. A penguin's coloration is counter-shaded for camouflage, with a white front and black back, so that when they are swimming, it is hard for a predator looking up to distinguish them from the reflective water surface, whereas the black helps them when seen from above. Their aquatically adapted bodies make them waddle when they walk, so another way to move around out of the water is to slide on their bellies in the snow or on ice, using their feet to steer and propel themselves. Penguins can also jump, which is often observed in Rockhopper Penguins.

While working on shark conservation, these biologists needed to catch them to put a tracker in them that would allow the researchers to monitor them for up to ten years. But in order to catch a shark, you need a good bait, so they were trying to catch a tuna for it. So just imagine their surprise when a marlin jumps out of the water instead!! It was still a young one, but it was much bigger, heavier, and stronger than a tuna! Catching a marlin was never the intention, so they tried to bring it to the boat to set it free, but after an hour trying, the marlin bested them and cut the line itself. What an experience! Marlins have elongated bodies, a rigid and long dorsal fin that extends forward forming a crest, and a spear-like bill. Its name is believed to have come from its sailor's marlinspike look. Wanderers of the oceans, they can be found worldwide, near the surface of the sea, feeding mostly on other fishes. They use their long spears to slash at schooling fish and stun their prey; rarely actually spearing. They are consumed as food and are highly prized by sport fishermen. Marlin fishing, also known as billfishing, is considered by some game fishermen to be a pinnacle of offshore game fishing, due to their size and power, their astonishing speed bursts, and relative rareness. There are five species of Marlin: the Atlantic Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans; the Indo-Pacific Blue Marlin (Makaira mazara); the Black Marlin (Istiompax indica); the Striped Marlin (Kajikia audax); and the White Marlin (Kajikia albida). The marlin family (Istiophoridae) also includes the Atlantic Sailfish (Istiophorus albicans), the Indo-Pacific Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), the Shortbill Spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris), the Roundscale Spearfish (Tetrapturus georgii), the Mediterranean Spearfish (Tetrapturus belone), and the Longbill Spearfish (Tetrapturus pfluegeri), all with the same general body shape of the marlins.

Sea Turtle hatchlings usually come out between the last and the first hours of the day, when the temperatures are nicer and they won't overheat, however, on cloudy/rainy days, they can come out at any time. Sea Turtles spend a few days inside the nest, after hatching. First, they absorb what's left of the yolk sac and wait for their plastron to straighten out, and them it can take up to 48 hours for them to surface, buried alive during that whole time... And then they emerge, and find themselves in a completely different world... A world only the females who reach adulthood will see again... And then it begins, the long crawl towards their new life... When they hatch, sea turtles crawl to the ocean, where the survivors spend the rest of their lives. Males never go back to land, but females have to, so that they can nest. They find their way back to the same beach where they hatched, decades later, then crawl up the beach, usually when it is dark, and when they find the perfect spot, the digging begins. It can take a whole hour to dig a nest, then lay the eggs, cover it up, and make sure nobody finds it, because that is all the parental care they are going to get: making sure the eggs are as safe as possible before the mother goes back to the ocean. There are seven species of Sea Turtles in the world: the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta), the Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), and the Flatback Sea Turtle (Natator depressus). The hatchlings in the video are Olive Ridley, the second smallest species, but the most abundant one, although it is listed as a Vulnerable species.

Parrots, macaws, parakeets, and parrotlets belong to the Psittacidae family, the one with the most species at risk of extinction of all the bird families. In the last few centuries, several species have gone extinct. Although the Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is the member of the Anodorhynchus genus that is the least threatened, it is still concerning. The species used to be widely spread in Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia, however, its populations have declined drastically, due to a combination of hunting for feathers, loss of habitat, and the illegal pet trade, both national and international. A rapid population decline seems to have taken place over the last three generations (31 years), Over 10,000 birds have been taken from the wild in the 1980s alone, sent to the United States, Japan, and Europe, where they would spend the rest of their lives in captivity. To protect the Hyacinth Macaw it's necessary to protect its food and the trees used for nesting, which should happen throughout the year. They have a specialized diet, and 95% of their nests are made on one tree species, the manduvi tree (Sterculia apetala), also known a Panama tree. Because of that, in the late 1990s, 150 artificial nests have been installed in the Pantanal, where the largest population is, and over 50% of the nests were immediately occupied by them. Other species that compete with the Hyacinth Macaws for nesting trees have also started using the artificial nests, which increased the survival of Hyacinth Macaw chicks in over 200%. The population in the Pantanal has undergone a recovery since, but the overall rate of decline over three generations is still suspected to have been rapid. This species has been downlisted from Endangered, it is now listed as Vulnerable. The macaws are still being monitored and cataloged. In the video, one individual can be seen watching the biologists from an artificial nest, as they approach it to collect the data.

This baby Woolly Monkey is an orphan and now lives at a rescue center. Primates, in general, are extremely social animals, and the babies need to be with a mother, even if a foster one. The moment she met her caretaker, she instantly adopted her as her foster mom and wants nothing more than to spend the whole day with her. The bond between the monkey and her caretaker is beautiful to watch! All babies love to play, regardless of species, but the resemblance in behavior shared between a baby monkey and a human baby is remarkable! Just look how adorably she plays with her foster mom, just like a human baby would! Although baby monkeys can be super and cuddly, it is important to remember that they are wild animals, and should NOT be kept as pets! This baby lost her mother and was rescued from the black market precisely because people buy monkeys! The Poeppig's Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix poeppigii), also known as Red Woolly Monkey and Silvery Woolly Monkey, shares the Lagothrix genus with four other species: Common Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha); Peruvian Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix cana); Colombian Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix lugens); Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda). Although recent studies suggest that the Poeppig's Woolly Monkey and the first three species are actually all different subspecies of Lagothrix lagotricha, and the only separate species should be the Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey. This species of Woolly Monkey is endemic to the Amazon Forest, and studies show that its populations have decreased by at least 30% in the last three generations (45 years). It can be found in Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. They tend to live in medium-sized groups of 23, 25 individuals, although smaller groups between 10 and 23 have been recorded. All species of Woolly Monkeys (Lagothrix sp.) are at risk of going extinct; from "vulnerable" to "critically endangered", they are all disappearing because of humans. Do not support the pet trade! Monkeys should be free!

This adorable 6-month-old rescued anteater lost her mother when she was very young and had to be rescued and hand-raised, which means getting bottle-fed to ensure she grows up healthy, but she also gets some termites every once in a while, and she absolutely loves it! The Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is the sole extant member of the Myrmecophaga genus, but it shares the Myrmecophagidae family with two other species of anteaters: the Lesser Anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla), also known as the Collared Anteater, or Southern Tamandua; and the Northern Tamandua (Tamandua Mexicana). They share the Pilosa order with the Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus), also known as the Pygmy Anteater, and sloths. The Giant Anteater is the only terrestrial species of anteater; all the other three are arboreal. It is a solitary animal, but once the female gives birth, she carries her offspring on her back for about six months, when the young becomes too big. Its tube-like rostrum and small mouth opening are highly adapted to its feeding habits. In spite of its name, the anteater also feeds on termites; it has no teeth, but a specialized tongue that allows it to eat up to 30,000 insects every day. The tongue is about 60 cm (2 ft) long and has tiny spines, pointing backwards, covered in sticky saliva, and it can be darted inside the mound for up to 150 times per minute. The claws are also used during feeding, digging holes in the mounds. Each colony is attacked for only about a minute, and then the anteater moves onto the next mound, so that it doesn't run out of food or gets bitten in the process. It is native to South and Central America, and it can be found in various habitats, although it is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

This adorable baby manatee was found beached when he was just a little baby and had to be rescued and cared for at a marine mammal rehabilitation center, and hopefully, will soon be released back into the ocean. Animals in captivity need neural and physical stimulation in order to reduce stress and enhance their well-being; it's called environmental enrichment. That is exactly what this hula hoop does. Manatees are very curious animals, so of course, it wants to investigate and play with the hula hoop, in his own way, of course. It gets bottle-fed five times a day, with a special formula containing the fat and nutrients they need. The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is the largest species of Sirenians alive. The Sirenia order also includes the Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis) and the African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). The West Indian Manatee is currently divided into two subspecies, the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and the Antillean Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), although recent data indicates three separate lineages: one in Florida and the Greater Antilles; another in Western and Southern Gulf of Mexico, Central America, and Northwestern South America, West of the Lesser Antilles; and the third one on Northeastern South America, East of the Lesser Antilles. Evidence indicates that there might be hybridization with the Amazonian Manatee, in some areas near the mouth of the Amazon. In 2017 the West Indian Manatee’s status has been downgraded from endangered to threatened, but it's essential to have stronger emphasis on preserving and restoring warm water habitats, and increase the reports of manatee boat strikes, in order to sustain this progress.

This 6-month-old Blue Monkey was rescued after his mother died. He is being rehabilitated at a Wildlife Center, and once he is older, he will be integrated into a troop and released back into the wild. He may look adorable, but he is a real trouble-maker! Hyperactive and curious, he never stops! Everything is a game to him! Here you can see him trying to steal a pen from his caretaker pocket, after being weighed. He soon realized he wouldn't be able to get it, though, and gave up. The Blue Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis), also known as Samango, belongs to the Cercopithecidae family of Old World Monkeys, the largest of all primate families, comprising 138 species of primates. The family includes the mandrill, drill, baboons, colobus, macaques, among many others. The genus Cercopithecus, generally referred to as Guenons, comprises 26 species, and 17 subspecies of Blue Monkey are recognized: Cercopithecus mitis opisthostictus, Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii, Cercopithecus mitis albogularis, Cercopithecus mitis albotorquatus, Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni, Cercopithecus mitis doggetti, Cercopithecus mitis moloneyi, Cercopithecus mitis heymansi, Cercopithecus mitis erythrarchus, Cercopithecus mitis zammaronoi, Cercopithecus mitis kolbi, Cercopithecus mitis monoides, Cercopithecus mitis mitis, Cercopithecus mitis kandti, Cercopithecus mitis francescae, Cercopithecus mitis schoutedeni and Cercopithecus mitis labiatus. This species is widespread across Central, Southern and East Africa. It can be found in many different types of forest, such as lowland and montane tropical moist forest, riverine and gallery forest, delta forest, bamboo forest, sand forest, and even secondary forest, logged forest and thickets. Blue Monkeys are diurnal and arboreal, and live in groups of up to 40 individuals. They may form alliances with other monkey species, for added protection. They are mostly frugivorous and folivorous, so their diet consists mostly of fruits and leaves, but they also feed on slugs and worms. In spite of being widespread, this species suffers from habitat loss and hunting.

Ticks can be very dangerous, transmitting diseases, so it's very important to keep them away from animals who have to live in captivity. This rescued lion, however, has had a tough life, sharing a small enclosure with many other males, so even though he has been rescued, he is still a very cranky individual, and is not having any of it! Would you have the courage to de-tick an angry lion? The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the five species of big cats belonging to the Panthera genus, along with the tiger (Panthera tigris), the leopard (Panthera pardus), the jaguar (Panthera onca), and the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia). Lions are found in most sub-Saharan countries in Africa, but originally their range used to be much wider, from Northern Africa through Southwest Asia, east into India, and west into Europe. Lions are found in most African habitats, being only absent from the interior of the Sahara desert and tropical rainforest. When there is not water available for them to drink, they get moisture from their prey, and sometimes even plants, which allows them to live in very arid environments. Lions are the most social of all cat species, and related females and their cubs live together in groups called prides, and males form coalitions. The lion is the second largest cat species in the world, being only smaller than the tiger. The most characteristic feature of lions is the males' prominent mane, which goes from light buff to silvery grey, yellowish red and dark brown. It is the only cat species with an obvious sexual dimorphism. The cubs have spots which mostly fade as they grow older.

This adorable rescued meerkat is only six months old and full of energy! She is always running around, playing, and rolling in the sand! How cute is that?! The meerkat (Suricata suricatta), also known as suricate, is the sole member of the Suricata genus, but it shares the Herpestidae family with 30 species of mongoose from Africa and Southern Eurasia, and four species of dwarf mongoose. Although there is only one species of meerkat, three subspecies are currently recognized: Suricata suricatta suricatta, in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa; Suricata suricatta majoriae, in the Kalahari; and Suricata suricatta iona, in southwestern Angola. Meerkats are small burrowing carnivores, feeding mostly on small invertebrates, and live in large underground networks that have multiple entrances. They are very social animals that live in large colonies called clans, which usually consist of about twenty animals, but can have up to 50 members or more. Meerkats are known for sharing burrows with Yellow Mongoose and Ground Squirrel. To ensure the safety of the clan, some individuals serve as lookouts, standing on their rear legs and gazing alertly over the plains, watching for predators such as birds of prey. When a predator is spotted, the sentries give a warning bark or whistle, and the other meerkats run and hide in one of the many entrances they have spread across their territory. Meerkats have different alarm calls depending on which predator was spotted. It is a widespread species in western parts of southern Africa, from north and west South Africa, to southwestern Botswana, western and southern Namibia, and the extreme southwestern Angola. It is possible that it occurs in Lesotho as well, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. It is absent from true desert, forests, and mountainous terrain, inhabiting arid, open country, with short grasses and sparse woody growth.