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This juvenile Green Sea Turtle was found at the beach and had to be rescued and rehabilitated. It is missing a flipper, but Green Turtles are very resilient, and with a lot of care from biologists and veterinarians, it was able to be returned to the ocean, as it can still swim, but because it has difficulty walking on the sand, it had to be released directly into the ocean, where it can swim just fine, in spite of the missing member. What a lovely happy ending! The Green Turtle is one of the seven species of sea turtles recognized today, along with the Loggerhead, the Hawksbill, the Leatherback, the Olive Ridley, the Kemp's Ridley and the Flatback. An 8th species has been suggested, the Black Sea Turtle, which presents a dark color and domed carapace, as well as smaller adult size than the Green Turtle, and extreme caudal dimorphism, but it is still consider too genetically similar to the Green Turtle to be considered a separate species; it is more accepted as a subspecies, and sometimes even just a different population. Contrary to popular belief, the Green Turtle is not named after its color, but for the green coloration of its fat. Their carapace color actually varies from pale to very dark green, plain to brilliant yellow, or even brown and green with radiating stripes. The plastron varies from white to yellowish in the Atlantic Ocean, and from dark grey to bluish-green in the Pacific Ocean. The hatchlings are dark-brown above with white underneath and on the margins of the flippers. They are the only species of sea turtle that are strictly herbivorous as adults, and eat mostly sea grass and algae once they reach 8 to 10 inches in length.

This wild cheetah was captured for research purpose; it will be sedated, examined, measured, weighed and it will receive a radio-collar, so that it can be tracked. Afterwards, the animals receives an "antidote" to make it wake up, and then it is released back into the wild. But sometimes the animal spends a few hours in the trap cage, from the moment it entered it, which is usually at night, to when it's found, and the veterinarian is there and ready. In order for the animal not to overheat on a hot Summer day, or get dehydrated, it needs to get water, but it won't drink it if you offer it, so the only option is to pour water over the animal, and then let it lick its own fur. The animal is not angry because of the water, but because it is wild, and therefore doesn't like or trust humans, so it's not happy about the whole situation, but once it stops growling, it proceeds to lick the water dripping from its nose. The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), is native to Africa and Asia, although it has been extirpated from nearly all of its Asian range. They could once be found from the shores of the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula, west through central India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and north to the northern shores of the Aral and Caspian Seas, but nowadays are limited to the central deserts of Iran. Although cheetahs still occur in several African countries, they now only occupy 10% of their historic range. Five subspecies are recognized: Acinonyx jubatus hecki, in Northwest Africa; Acinonyx jubatus earsoni, in East Africa; Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, in Southern Africa; Acinonyx jubatus soemmerringi, in Northeast Africa; and Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, from Northern Africa to central India. Cheetahs are classified as Vulnerable, although the subspecies Acinonyx jubatus venaticus and Acinonyx jubatus heckii are listed as Critically Endangered.

This adorable sea lion pup had to be rescued at a very young age, and now is being rehabilitated at a rescued center, in hopes that someday soon it'll be returned to the wild where it belongs. Because he is still very young, he doesn't like water yet, but loves to take naps in the sun, in the cold Chilean Summer. The South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) is a Pinniped, a suborder that includes 33 other species of sea lions, seals and the walrus. Pinnipeds are marine mammals that have front and rear flippers. They have short fur and slit-like nostrils can be closed when they dive. The suborder has three families: Phocidae (seals), Otariidae (sea lions and fur seals) and Odobenidae (walrus). Phocids have ear holes but no external ear flaps, and small front flippers, moving on land by flopping on their bellies. Otariids, have external ear flaps and large front flippers, being able to to walk on land. Odobenids are one of the largest pinnipeds, and both males and females have tusks and vacuum-like mouths. South American Sea Lions occur from northern Peru south to Cape Horn, in the Pacific Ocean, and up to southern Brazil, in the Atlantic Ocean. They also occur in the Falkland Islands. Some individuals have been found as far north as Ecuador and Colombia, on the west coast, and Rio de Janeiro, on the east coast. Adult males can reach 2.6 m in length and weigh up to 350 kg, whereas females will reach of 2 m in length and 170 kg. The male’s neck is more muscled than the females', with a patch of short hair around the head, resembling a lion's mane. Pups are born black above and paler below, and may present a greyish-orange coloration on the undersides, weighing 11-15 kg and are 75-85 cm long. They undergo a first molt at around one and two months of age, becoming dark brown, which will fade throughout its first year, becoming light brown.

These young baboons are all orphans. They lost their mothers and had to be rescued when they were just little babies, and now have to grow up at a wildlife sanctuary. They do live in enclosures, but because they need to exercise, they are taken on daily walks. During these walks they are completely free to explore the wild, run and play around, and they love it! The Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus), is one of the five species of baboons, along with the Yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus), the Olive baboon (Papio anubis), the Guinea baboon (Papio papio), and the Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas). With the exception of the Hamadryas Baboon, which also occurs in the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, they are all native to the African continent. The Chacma Baboon occurs all over southern Africa, up to the Zambezi valley, Caprivi, and southern Angola. Two subspecies of Chacma Baboon are recognized: Papio ursinus griseipes, occuring in south-west Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique; and Papio ursinus ursinus, occuring in all provinces of South Africa and throughout Namibia. They have the need to drink water daily, making water a limiting factor for their range, but they occupy subdesert and steppes, savanna, all types of woodland, montane regions, Cape Fynbos and Succulent Karoo. Chacma Baboons live in troops of usually 20 to 50 members, but up to 130 individuals have been recorded together. The troops contain adult males, females and the babies, and it has a complex social structure, and are ranked by dominance. Baboons are omnivorous and opportunistic, which means that they eat a little bit of everything, and will take whatever they can get their hands on, even though they might show a preference for bulbs, shoots, roots, seeds, and fruits. They can also eat fungi, lichen, invertebrates, small vertebrates and, occasionally, even small antelopes, or lambs and small stock, in some ranching areas. They are usually considered pests, for raiding crops and livestock, which makes people shoot and poison them. They are also hunted for bushmeat, captured for the pet trade and can be used for medical research, but victims of urbanization as well, getting hit by cars or electrocuted.

At first, this adorable rescued Ocelot cub was just checking out the water, but Manatees are very curious animals, and they know that when we tap the water is to give them their bottles, so when she did it, they went to her. As every kitten, she is also very curious, and was fascinated by the young Manatees, and she soon learned that they came when she tapped the water, so she would do it, then wait for them to come over, and observe them until they swam away... and then do it all over again! Both the Ocelot and the Manatees are orphans, and had to be rescued at a very early age, and now live at a rescue center. They are all still young, which makes them even more curious and wanting to make new friends and play. The Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a small wild cat, but it is the biggest member of the genus Leopardus, which also includes the Margay (Leopardus wiedii), the Northern Tiger Cat (Leopardus tigrinus), the Andean Mountain Cat (Leopardus jacobita), the Kodkod (Leopardus guigna), the Geoffroy's Cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), Pampas Cat (Leopardus colocolo), and the Southern Tiger Cat (Leopardus guttulus). It is native to the Americas and can be found in various habits, such as tropical forests, thorn scrub regions, savannah grasslands, marshes and mangrove forests. The Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis), as the name suggests, is native to the Amazonian rivers of South America. It is the smallest species of manatee described so far, although there is the possibility of a smaller one, the Dwarf Manatee (Trichechus pygmaeus), but it is not recognized as a species at the moment. The Amazonian Manatee shares the Trichechus genus with the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) and the West African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), but is the only species that lives exclusively in freshwater.

This adorable Yellow Mongoose had to be rescued, and now lives at a wildlife sanctuary. Mongooses can be very aggressive, but this one absolutely loves attention, and begs for had scratches like a dog or a cat would do. The Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata) is native to Southern Africa, and can be found in open, semi-arid areas, such as grasslands, scrub and semi-desert scrub. It is rarely seen in deserts, mountains or forests. It belongs to the Herpestidae family, along with 29 other species of mongooses from Africa and Southern Eurasia, 4 species of dwarf mongooses, and the Meerkat (Suricata suricatta). The Yellow Mongoose is the only member of the Cynictis genus, but it has several subspecies, based on color variation, size and hair and tail length. They are carnivorous, feeding on small animals such as lizards, snakes, amphibians, small mammals, but mainly insects and other invertebrates. They also eat all sorts of eggs. They have strong claws, used for digging and grabbing their food. They live underground, and may share the burrow with other species. Yellow Mongooses are facultatively social; they may den socially, cooperating in the rearing the pups and defending the territory, but they forage alone. They are diurnal animals, although nocturnal activity had been recorded. They are generally quiet animals, although high-pitched screams can be heard when they are fighting, as well as low defensive growls, and a short bark when alarm calling. They can also make a soft purring sound when mating. Yellow mongooses breed seasonally, twice a year. The female gives birth from one to three pups per litter; first, around October, and then between December and February. The pups are weaned around two months old, when they leave the burrow to forage with the adults for the first time, and become independent between four and five months of age.

This Wild Dog had to be rescued at an early age, so now it has to live at a wildlife sanctuary. Just as house dogs, food time is his favorite time! The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), also known as African Painted Dog, is one of the most endangered mammals in the world! It was been considered endangered for over twenty years, and with an estimate of about 6,600 remaining in the wild. They are not only shot or poisoned by farmers, for being accused of killing livestock, but their main threat is habitat fragmentation, which not only subjects them to disease outbreaks, but increases the human-wild dog conflict. Wild Dogs are highly social animals, and almost exclusively live in packs, usually of up to ten individuals, but packs with over 40 members have been recorded. A lone Wild Dog has a very slim chance of survival, and packs don’t accept new members, which is why an animal such as the one in the video cannot be returned to the wild. There is monogamous alpha mating pair in charge of the pack, but the pups are the ones who get to feed first, and the rest of the group has to patiently wait for their turn. The pack shares a very strong bond and when a member is injured or ill, and is unable to hunt, the other ones will care for it and feed it, making sure it doesn't die. Because the pack has such a coordinated nature, they have a 80% success rate with hunts, making them extremely effective predators! Because they communicate so well, they are even able to change strategy during a hunt. Their scientific name means "painted dog", due to their mottled coat, which has brown, yellow, white and black colors. And even though that is true for every Wild Dog, each of them will have a unique pattern, which makes them easy to be visually identified.

The North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is one of the most endangered whales in the world, with an estimate of only 300-450 individuals remaining! There are two other species of Right Whale: the Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis), and the North Pacific Right Whale (Eubalaena japonica). All three species received this name because whalers referred to them as the "right" whales to kill, due to their large amount of oil and baleen, which had many uses. Also, they usually travel at no more than about 10 miles per hour, making them easy to capture, and they float once they are dead, making the carcass much easier to salvage. They came close to extinction by 1750, and although they became internationally protected in the first half of the 20th century, they might still go extinct in about 20 years. The populations of Southern Right Whale have been growing since, but the North Atlantic Right Whale is still very rare. In spite of whaling no longer being a threat to them, their main causes of known mortality are entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. When ships run into them, the damage is often fatal; they might die at the time of the impact, or later, from blood loss or other complications. And although Ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement are the leading causes of death for North Atlantic Right Whales, they aren't the only ones. Right Whales are very sensitive to noise, so the sound pollution from seismic airguns, etc., is another very real threat, especially when combined with the first two. This video was shot while researching the whales with the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS), for conservation purposes. The motor was turned off, to avoid any accidents. They must be admired from a safe distance, and must not be approached.

These coatis used to be kept 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. 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). In this video you can clearly observe these behaviors. One of wants to check out everything: "could there be something hidden in the sleeves, or underneath the lab coat, or maybe I'll check if there's something on her back!". The other one is clearly obsessed with his caretaker's pocket! He doesn't want anything else, just whatever is in the pocket! And he's not willing to share it either! So determined! Animals are so funny!

A wild ostrich was found dead on a fence, and fed to the four rescued cheetahs. The cats had a feast, to the point where they could barely move and wouldn't even stop panting, but even then they would try and eat some more, when we got there to remove the carcass. A couple of them just gave up! Look at those faces! The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), is native to Africa and Asia, although it has been extirpated from nearly all of its Asian range. They could once be found from the shores of the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula, west through central India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and north to the northern shores of the Aral and Caspian Seas, but nowadays are limited to the central deserts of Iran. Although cheetahs still occur in several African countries, they now only occupy 10% of their historic range. Five subspecies are recognized: Acinonyx jubatus hecki, in Northwest Africa; Acinonyx jubatus earsoni, in East Africa; Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, in Southern Africa; Acinonyx jubatus soemmerringi, in Northeast Africa; and Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, from Northern Africa to central India. Cheetahs are classified as Vulnerable, although the subspecies Acinonyx jubatus venaticus and Acinonyx jubatus heckii are listed as Critically Endangered. They can be found in dry forest, thick scrub, grassland and hyperarid deserts. They are only absent from montane and tropical forests. Cheetahs are mostly known as the fastest land mammals, however, they are only able to sustain top speeds for a few hundred meters. If they don't succeed at their hunt by then, they need to give up and rest, otherwise they overheat. Unlike other cat species, female cheetahs are solitary, accompanied only by their young, and males can be solitary or live in coalitions of two or three, usually consisting of brothers, but not necessarily.

This adorable young manatee was found beached when he was just a little baby and had to be rescued and cared for at a marina mammal rehabilitation center, and hopefully, will soon be released back into the ocean. Animals in captivity need to be fed a balanced diet, to insure they receive all the nutrients they need to stay healthy, so he is given a couple of bananas a day, along with seaweed, grass and other vegetables. He used to be bottle-fed a special formula, as well, but he has been weaned, now that he is old enough. Manatees eat a lot, but he particularly loves the bananas! He takes one as soon as they are thrown in the tank, dives, then emerges on the other side of it, where he can eat it without being bothered by the others. He then leans his face against the tank wall and simply savors it! It takes him forever to eat the banana, but he enjoys every second of it! It's hilarious! 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.

On a Summer day, in Namibia, this troop of wild Chacma Baboons was spotted trying to run and hide from the rain, once it started pouring! The Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus), is one of the five species of baboons, along with the Yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus), the Olive baboon (Papio anubis), the Guinea baboon (Papio papio), and the Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas). With the exception of the Hamadryas Baboon, which also occurs in the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, they are all native to the African continent. The Chacma Baboon occurs all over southern Africa, up to the Zambezi valley, Caprivi, and southern Angola. Two subspecies of Chacma Baboon are recognized: Papio ursinus griseipes, occuring in south-west Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique; and Papio ursinus ursinus, occuring in all provinces of South Africa and throughout Namibia. They have the need to drink water daily, making water a limiting factor for their range, but they occupy subdesert and steppes, savanna, all types of woodland, montane regions, Cape Fynbos and Succulent Karoo. Chacma Baboons live in troops of usually 20 to 50 members, but up to 130 individuals have been recorded together. The troops contain adult males, females and the babies, and it has a complex social structure, and are ranked by dominance. Baboons are omnivorous and opportunistic, which means that they eat a little bit of everything, and will take whatever they can get their hands on, even though they might show a preference for bulbs, shoots, roots, seeds, and fruits. They can also eat fungi, lichen, invertebrates, small vertebrates and, occasionally, even small antelopes, or lambs and small stock, in some ranching areas. They are usually considered pests, for raiding crops and livestock, which makes people shoot and poison them. They are also hunted for bushmeat, captured for the pet trade and can be used for medical research, but victims of urbanization as well, getting hit by cars or electrocuted.

This funny Crab-eating Raccoon has neurological problems and had to be rescued. She is monitored by a veterinary and receives really good care. She might have an odd appearance and behavior, but we must agree that she has a very captivating way of scratching her head! In reality, rubbing the posterior part of the neck against objects is a form of territorial marking in this species. The marking is done using vertical or rotating movements of the head. And as it can be observed in the video, glandular secretions, usually from their anal glands, are also used for marking, as well as urine and feces. Crab-eating Raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus), also known as South American Raccoons, are native to South and Central America. They inhabit marshy and jungle areas, and feed mostly on crabs, lobsters, crayfish and other crustaceans and shellfish, such as oysters and clams, but being omnivorous, they also eat fruit, turtle eggs and small amphibians. They are about the same size as common raccoons, in spite of looking smaller, due to its much shorter fur. Although it is naturally rare in some of the areas of its range, and unlike its Northern cousin, it doesn't adapt well to human activity, the species is listed as Least Concern, because it has a wide distribution range. They are nocturnal, solitary, and active at ground level. They have well-developed tactile senses, particularly in the nose and hands, using their hands as tools. They use their hands to handle and manipulate food before placing it in their mouths, and can manipulate small prey items. They can also be observed dipping their food in the water before eating it. Some studies have placed raccoons' intelligence above cats' but below primates', when it comes to discriminate objects. They also showed that raccoons can learn quickly and retain knowledge for up to a year. Female distribution is limited by resources such as water, food, and den sites, whereas males might be driven by the densities and spatial distribution of females. They have excellent nighttime vision, in spite of being color blind, and have 13 different vocalizations recognized so far, 7 of which are between the mother and young.

These adorable animals lost their mothers and had to be rescued at an early age. They are very curious and really want to investigate the camera while getting fed, at a wildlife sanctuary!

This adorable Vervet Monkey was orphaned and rescued at a very early age, and had to grow up and a wildlife center. She will be released back into the wild, some day, but in the meantime, she needs a foster mom, which is what her caretaker is to her. In order to be able to return to the wild, she can't be humanized, which means that she can't be used to people, or she would approach them once she's free, and it would result in her either getting captured and kept as a pet, or killed, so her foster mom can't do anything a monkey wouldn't do, such as talking to her. But since keeping her company is required, the caretaker sits with her for hours, but even after all that time, the baby monkey still doesn't want her to leave, and keeps jumping on her shoulder, and screams and she finally manages to.

This orphan Vervet Monkey had to be rescued and now lives at a wildlife sanctuary. He is very curious and loves to interact with his caretakers! Just look at that face! 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.

These beautiful Sable Antelopes live in a reserve where they can roam around freely all day and not worry about hunters. Even though they are always grazing and browsing, every once in a while they are given pellets, and being approached by such amazing animals is quite the experience! During the grazing, the group can spread out, but the animals try to stay within sight of each other. The maker of this video managed to record a rare sighting of Sable Antelopes almost interacting with a human in the wild. But, apart from having seen a specimen in the zoo what do we know about the most elegant antelope on the planet? The Sable Antelope, also known as African or Black Antelope (Hippotragus niger for scientists), is a beautiful and graceful animal with a number of distinctive features that are not characteristic of other species of antelope. Both males and females of the species have horns distinguished with a large number of rings and have a semicircular, curved back shape. Their <a href="https://rumble.com/v3f85n-goat-hangs-from-power-line-by-its-horns.html" target="_blank">horns</a> can reach about 160 cm in length, and their ends are incredibly sharp. Crescent and powerful, they are so sharp that they are often compared to the famous Turkish sword. This beauty has its price: the horns are still considered one of the most valuable trophies that can be obtained which puts the fragile creature's existence in terrible peril: many hunters dream of this decoration for their hunting collections and collectors are happy to pay any price. This is the reason why in the early twentieth century, the number of black antelopes began to decline sharply. To save the species, the authorities restricted hunting for it - especially for foreign tourists to whom were mandated expensive licenses, which were not so easy to get. But local residents could bypass this ban. In addition, the demand for antelope horns has only increased. Therefore, immediately there appeared enterprising businessmen who organized the sale of valuable trophies. And as you could see in the video at the top of the page, antelopes, as most grazers are meek and inquisitive. They approached the filmer carefully and gradually and in the end, they exposed themselves in such a way that any person could take advantage of. The adult male black <a href="https://rumble.com/v449o5-beautiful-male-kudu-antelope-lock-horns-in-kruger-national-park.html" target="_blank">antelope</a> weighs about 280 kg. Its height at the withers is 117-140 cm with a body length of 190-210 cm. The females are not much smaller and slimmer: they weigh 240 kg with a body length of 130-150 cm. On both sides of the neck, there is a hard black mane, from 10 to 12 cm. The tip of the tail is decorated with a tassel. The color of the black antelope's coat depends on sex and age. Young males and adult females are usually of a dark chestnut color, but older males have charcoal-black fur. Only their belly is completely white. In addition, both sexes have a light pattern on their muzzles whisch is, like our fingerprints, unique for each individual. Black antelopes live in large herds. If there are enough water and pastures, then adult females with cubs adhere to the territory of one male. Leaders mark the boundaries of their lands with piles of manure and regularly update them. In addition, they leave visual marks as well: they use their sharp horns and heavy hooves to break and trample on a border-marking bush. Alpha-males actively protect their harem from uninvited visitors. During the fight, they kneel like horses and menacingly direct their magnificent antlers toward the enemy. Between females, too, a certain hierarchy is established. They can even fight with each other to prove their right to a higher position. At the same time, they are standing shoulder to shoulder by other females should their young be in danger. Very often, female Sable Antelopes are known to drive off even lioness, and during such fights, it does not matter whose cub was in trouble.

This beautiful cheetah was rescued when he was still very little, and therefore, will have to spend the rest of his life at a wildlife sanctuary, where is now living the life! But that doesn't keep him from having an attitude while waiting to get fed, from time to time. The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), is native to Africa and Asia, although it has been extirpated from nearly all of its Asian range. They could once be found from the shores of the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula, west through central India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and north to the northern shores of the Aral and Caspian Seas, but nowadays are limited to the central deserts of Iran. Although cheetahs still occur in several African countries, they now only occupy 10% of their historic range. Five subspecies are recognized: Acinonyx jubatus hecki, in Northwest Africa; Acinonyx jubatus earsoni, in East Africa; Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, in Southern Africa; Acinonyx jubatus soemmerringi, in Northeast Africa; and Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, from Northern Africa to central India. Cheetahs are classified as Vulnerable, although the subspecies Acinonyx jubatus venaticus and Acinonyx jubatus heckii are listed as Critically Endangered. They can be found in dry forest, thick scrub, grassland and hyperarid deserts. They are only absent from montane and tropical forests. Cheetahs are mostly known as the fastest land mammals, however, they are only able to sustain top speeds for a few hundred meters. If they don't succeed at their hunt by then, they need to give up and rest, otherwise they overheat. Unlike other cat species, female cheetahs are solitary, accompanied only by their young, and males can be solitary or live in coalitions of two or three, usually consisting of brothers, but not necessarily.

Animals that have to live in captivity need environmental enrichment: neural and physical stimulation in order to reduce stress and enhance their well-being. Big cats can't hunt when they live in an enclosure, so instead of always just being handed their food, they some times get a bucket of frozen meat and blood. It not only helps them endure hot Summer days, but it also keeps them entertained for a very long time!

This adorable young baboon was given alcohol to drink, as a baby, before she was rescued. She's actually older than she looks, has neurological problems and is mostly blind, because of it, but now she lives at a wildlife sanctuary, where she is well cared for, and has the best life she could possibly have! The Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus), is one of the five species of baboons, along with the Yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus), the Olive baboon (Papio anubis), the Guinea baboon (Papio papio), and the Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas). With the exception of the Hamadryas Baboon, which also occurs in the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, they are all native to the African continent. The Chacma Baboon occurs all over southern Africa, up to the Zambezi valley, Caprivi, and southern Angola. Two subspecies of Chacma Baboon are recognized: Papio ursinus griseipes, occuring in south-west Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique; and Papio ursinus ursinus, occuring in all provinces of South Africa and throughout Namibia. They have the need to drink water daily, making water a limiting factor for their range, but they occupy subdesert and steppes, savanna, all types of woodland, montane regions, Cape Fynbos and Succulent Karoo. Chacma Baboons live in troops of usually 20 to 50 members, but up to 130 individuals have been recorded together. The troops contain adult males, females and the babies, and it has a complex social structure, and are ranked by dominance. Baboons are omnivorous and opportunistic, which means that they eat a little bit of everything, and will take whatever they can get their hands on, even though they might show a preference for bulbs, shoots, roots, seeds, and fruits. They can also eat fungi, lichen, invertebrates, small vertebrates and, occasionally, even small antelopes, or lambs and small stock, in some ranching areas. They are usually considered pests, for raiding crops and livestock, which makes people shoot and poison them. They are also hunted for bushmeat, captured for the pet trade and can be used for medical research, but victims of urbanization as well, getting hit by cars or electrocuted.

This cheetah had to be rescued and now lives in a pre-release area. He still needs to get fed, which means that he doesn't hunt, so he needs to chase the car in order to get his food. He knows that he will get fed regardless, so he doesn't exactly put on an effort... but at least he's getting some exercise! The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), is native to Africa and Asia, although it has been extirpated from nearly all of its Asian range. They could once be found from the shores of the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula, west through central India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and north to the northern shores of the Aral and Caspian Seas, but nowadays are limited to the central deserts of Iran. Although cheetahs still occur in several African countries, they now only occupy 10% of their historic range. Five subspecies are recognized: Acinonyx jubatus hecki, in Northwest Africa; Acinonyx jubatus earsoni, in East Africa; Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, in Southern Africa; Acinonyx jubatus soemmerringi, in Northeast Africa; and Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, from Northern Africa to central India. Cheetahs are classified as Vulnerable, although the subspecies Acinonyx jubatus venaticus and Acinonyx jubatus heckii are listed as Critically Endangered. They can be found in dry forest, thick scrub, grassland and hyperarid deserts. They are only absent from montane and tropical forests. Cheetahs are mostly known as the fastest land mammals, however, they are only able to sustain top speeds for a few hundred meters. If they don't succeed at their hunt by then, they need to give up and rest, otherwise they overheat. Unlike other cat species, female cheetahs are solitary, accompanied only by their young, and males can be solitary or live in coalitions of two or three, usually consisting of brothers, but not necessarily.

These three young Green Sea Turtles were found at a beach and had to be rescued and rehabilitated. One is even missing a flipper, but with a lot of care from biologists and veterinarians, they were able to be returned to the ocean, where they belong. Awesome!

African Wild Dogs live and hunt in packs, and the way they feed is very impressive! Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't like to get eaten by any animals, but when you see these guys eating, you can't help but be thankful that you are not their meal! Wild Dogs are highly social animals, and almost exclusively live in packs, usually of up to ten individuals, but packs with over 40 members have been recorded. A lone Wild Dog has a very slim chance of survival, and packs don’t accept new members. There is monogamous alpha mating pair in charge of the pack, but the pups are the ones who get to feed first, and the rest of the group has to patiently wait for their turn. The pack shares a very strong bond and when a member is injured or ill, and is unable to hunt, the other ones will care for it and feed it, making sure it doesn't die. Because the pack has such a coordinated nature, they have a 80% success rate with hunts, making them extremely effective predators! Because they communicate so well, they are even able to change strategy during a hunt. The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), also known as African Painted Dog, is one of the most endangered mammals in the world! It was been considered endangered for over twenty years, and with an estimate of about 6,600 remaining in the wild. They are not only shot or poisoned by farmers, for being accused of killing livestock, but their main threat is habitat fragmentation, which not only subjects them to disease outbreaks, but increases the human-wild dog conflict. Their scientific name means "painted dog", due to their mottled coat, which has brown, yellow, white and black colors. And even though that is true for every Wild Dog, each of them will have a unique pattern, which makes them easy to be visually identified. Unlike other canids, they have no underfur, and it's entirely consisted of stiff bristle-hairs. The fur is gradually lost with age, making old individuals nearly bald.

These baby Chacma Baboons are all orphans, and had to be rescued, growing up at a wildlife sanctuary. They get taken on daily walks, where they have a lot of time to just play around, climb trees and have fun! The Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus), is one of the five species of baboons, along with the Yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus), the Olive baboon (Papio anubis), the Guinea baboon (Papio papio), and the Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas). With the exception of the Hamadryas Baboon, which also occurs in the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, they are all native to the African continent. The Chacma Baboon occurs all over southern Africa, up to the Zambezi valley, Caprivi, and southern Angola. Two subspecies of Chacma Baboon are recognized: Papio ursinus griseipes, occuring in south-west Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique; and Papio ursinus ursinus, occuring in all provinces of South Africa and throughout Namibia. They have the need to drink water daily, making water a limiting factor for their range, but they occupy subdesert and steppes, savanna, all types of woodland, montane regions, Cape Fynbos and Succulent Karoo. Chacma Baboons live in troops of usually 20 to 50 members, but up to 130 individuals have been recorded together. The troops contain adult males, females and the babies, and it has a complex social structure, and are ranked by dominance. Baboons are omnivorous and opportunistic, which means that they eat a little bit of everything, and will take whatever they can get their hands on, even though they might show a preference for bulbs, shoots, roots, seeds, and fruits. They can also eat fungi, lichen, invertebrates, small vertebrates and, occasionally, even small antelopes, or lambs and small stock, in some ranching areas. They are usually considered pests, for raiding crops and livestock, which makes people shoot and poison them. They are also hunted for bushmeat, captured for the pet trade and can be used for medical research, but victims of urbanization as well, getting hit by cars or electrocuted.

This adorable baby caracal unfortunately didn't have the chance to grow up in the wild, but it received the best care possible at a wildlife sanctuary in Africa. Caracals are extremely beautiful cats, with some very characteristic features, making the babies even cuter than other kittens, some times resembling a Pikachu. How not to fall in love with it?!