WildCreatures

Violet is a four week old Lamanche goat. She is being raised on a small family farm in Keene, Ontario, along with cows, horses, donkeys, chickens and pigs. Violet has become very attached to Alanna and the farm dogs and she follows them all around. Violet chases the dogs, running and jumping with them and she even jumps up, looking for a scratch behind the ear. The farm dogs accept Violet and include her in the fun. The border collie has been trying to teach her how to fetch sticks. Violet acts so much like the dogs that it seems she believes she is one of them!

These camels at the Peterborough Zoo generally get along well. They live a stress free life, with lots of room to wander, lots of food to eat, and good care. In fact, the Peterborough Zoo is one of only two zoos in Ontario to receive a high evaluation score from Zoo Check, an organization that evaluates the conditions for animals in captivity in Canada. A stress free environment is essential for animals to be able to cohabit and these two camels generally get along very well. But, as is always the case with any social animals, dominance and competitive behaviors do occasionally appear. On a mild spring day in May, the two camels began having a little skirmish. The male is a little larger and he seems to be the calmer of the two in this matter. The female began poking and biting at the male, apparently displeased about something. She lowered her head and began to bite his left front foot and ankle. He used his massive head to push her away and he stood calmly again. But after a few moments, she attacked his ankle again. This time the male retaliates by seizing her left, rear foot in his teeth. It’s difficult to immediately see what he’s doing, but as we start to hear a scream, we can tell that one of them is in pain. Then we can see that the female has released her grip and it is her that is screaming. As she struggles to get up, we can briefly see that her rear foot is pulled free from his jaws. Surprisingly, she makes a few more attempts to get her head down near his ankles to bite him. As if his patience is wearing thin, he starts to push her forward and he uses his massive head to push hers down toward the ground. All of this involves a whole lot of screaming, grunting, and even noises that sound like burps and farts. It’s impossible to chose one to cheer for in what seems like a domestic squabble. Luckily, peace was restored soon after and the two camels seemed to be enjoying each other’s company again. It’s even possible that this behavior was some sort of affection or courting.

Known for their aggressive nature and impressive bite force, bull sharks are not a welcome site for divers. Considered the most dangerous sharks in the world by some experts, they are avoided whenever possible. These divers are approached by reef sharks and then realize that some of them are actually ten foot long bull sharks! The divers' curiosity turns to concern as the sharks circle and swim among them. Their only option was to remain calm and make their way back to the boat. Close call!

There is a mysterious world beneath the waves that is home to mysterious creatures and beautiful corals. Scuba diving takes the privileged few to a place that most people will never be fortunate enough to experience. It is a world of color, of mysterious creatures and breathtaking sights. There is a peace and tranquility in this quiet paradise that draws people to explore. A typical journey will take divers up to 100 feet beneath the surface and it can last as long as an hour. Their air supply and allowable bottom time pass surprisingly quickly and divers reluctantly make their way back to the surface.

This little parrot lives at a nature park and rehab centre in Papua New Guinea. A smart little creature, he watched intently from the trees as this Canadian tourist entered the enclosure and took a few pictures and video. He seemed curious and decided to approach for a closer look. The little parrot landed on a branch right beside Dave and looked at him expectantly. Dave slowly extended his hand toward the parrot and he eagerly climbed onto Dave's hand and made his way up to his shoulder. After a few squawks and curious nibbles at Dave's hair, the little fellow began rubbing his chest on Dave's neck and acting as if he might be settling down for a nap. Or perhaps it was a little misguided attempt at affection. Dave couldn't see what the little bird was up to but it was both ticklish and amusing at the same time. Kristy and Peter tried to coax the bird over to one of their arms but he would have no part of that. After a few minutes, Dave put the bird back on a branch and said goodbye. Whether or not this is a frequent occurrence for this friendly little parrot is hard to say, but he has obviously learned to trust humans and to treat new guests as potential friends. This nature park is home to a variety of animals, birds, bats, and reptiles. The park takes in injured or abandoned animals and those that have been seized from unlawful homes or unlawful trade. The animals are given proper housing and care and they enjoy a very decent life here at the park. Some of the animals actually roam free and are able to come and go as they please. Facilities like this one aid in rehabilitaion of animals and they make a serious contribution to local conservation by conducting head start programs. These innovative projects involve hatching reptile eggs and helping the hatchlings survive the early stages of life. They are then released into the wild. This assists the animals by ensuring that more of them will survive to sexual maturity and breed in the wild. This park also conducts educational programs for adults and children and it contributes financially to conservation programs. The park has preserved a large stretch of jungle that contains specific trees needed by the local species of birds and bats. Ethical and beneficial parks such as this one are having a very beneficial effect on wildlife throughout the country. Nature lovers who want to ensure that they are supporting only ethical zoos and parks can find ample information online about how the parks are run and how the animals are treated. It's important that we don't support unethical treatment of animals by paying for entry to facilities that imprison animals solely for entertainment and tourism.

A female osprey (fish eagle) arrives in her nest but keeps a watchful eye on the sky above. She sees another female coming in for an attack and she flattens herself out just in time to miss being shredded by razor sharp talons. She flaps frantically and flips upside down to use her own talons to defend against a second attack from above. She struggles to fly above the attacker and chases her off. This osprey barely survived the encounter.

Not everyone is a fan of electric cars and Tesla drivers often experience people who show their disapproval of the cars in unusual ways. They are cut off and given the finger for no apparent reason. This Tesla owner was stopped in traffic, waiting at a red light. A biker on a Harley Davidson motorcycle was stopped behind the Tesla. He was pointing aggressively at the car and appeared to be yelling disapproval as they waited for the light to turn green. As the traffic light changed and cars began began to move, the Tesla driver accelerated to pull away. He had little interest in what the biker had to say. The biker pulled abruptly around the Tesla, entering a median lane and he cut in close enough to the front bumper that the Tesla driver had to brake. The biker immediately slowed and signaled left, intending to turn from the straight through lane. His intention was obviously to annoy the driver of the electric car. The Tesla owner honked his horn in defiance, ready to give the biker a proper reprimand in the process. But what he had forgotten was that his wife had set the horn of the Tesla to play "La Cucaracha" (The Cockroach") The biker was obviously mad at the audacity of being honked at until he heard the tune and saw the sudden embarrassment of the Tesla driver. His angry scowl turned instantly to laughter. Although it's not visible, the biker raised his hand and shrugged as if to say "Seriously?!", clearly unable to be annoyed at any of this. The Tesla owner slunk lower in his seat and continued on his way. Instead of turning left, the biker drove up beside the Tesla owner to pass him one more time and laugh heartily at the juvenile horn sound. It is safe to say that the biker got the last laugh, and the best laugh in this encounter.

Humpback whales are among the most beautiful and awe inspiring creatures on earth. These lucky swimmers experienced a once in a lifetime thrill when they entered the water in Tonga to swim in the ocean. A pod of humpback whales came through, swimming directly at and under the whales. Humpbacks come to Tonga to breed and to bear their young. This is one of the few areas in the world where they are safe from large sharks and orcas. There are no predators for the whales in the waters around the 169 islands that make up the Kingdom of Tonga. The female humpbacks are followed by eligible males during mating season. They jostle and shove each other, trying to assert their dominance and claim breeding rights. The females aren't always receptive and these courtship rituals might occur over hundreds of miles of ocean. These swimmers found themselves right in the path of one of these events, known as a heat run. They were thrilled to see the whales passing directly beneath them. Intelligent and gentle, the whales had no interest in colliding with the clumsy humans in the water and they submerged long enough to pass under them without contact. Few people will ever come so close to such magnificent creatures in their own environment. For these swimmers to see 7 or 8 of them at once was simply unforgettable.

Chikku is a very smart rabbit. She is eight months old and lives in Garhwa, India. You wouldn't expect a rabbit to be so well trained that it would come when called, but Chikku understands her name and responds. It's even more impressive that she does this even when she is in the middle of digging a deep burrow in the earth. Chikku can be seen here as she tunnels through soft dirt. Her owner, Mayank, recorded her as she began making a burrow in the garden in front of their home. She had dug quickly through the soil and was in a tunnel a few feet deep. We can see her back end as she busily scoops out dirt and pushes it behind her. She is an adorable sight as her little tail wiggles at the other end of the tunnel. She is working furiously but Mayank calls her and whistles. Amazingly, Chikku recognizes the call and scampers out of the hole backwards. She pops out and gives Mayank a look that seems to question why he disturbed her when she was so hard at work. As if deciding that it's break time she takes a few steps away from the hole, possibly done for the moment. Chikku is a wonderful family pet, spending most of her time in the house. She sleeps in a large cage that acts as her indoor den, although she has full run of the house during the day. She loves rice and pulses, which are a type of lentil. Blended together with a hint of spice, this is a delicious meal for a well loved little rabbit. After a good feast of her favorite food, she likes to stretch out in the garden in the front of the house and have a nap. Chikku is a very happy rabbit and her antics entertain the family.

A group of divers were loading into a boat at the dock when one of them dropped a GoPro camera over the edge. With a second GoPro in hand, he decided to take a swim to get it back. What he didn't expect to find under the boat near the camera was a six foot great barracuda. The huge beast lazily swam under the dock and went to another boat. Luckily, this monster had his eye on the school of fish that were also around the dock and he wasn't too interested in the swimmer. Barracuda this size have few predators and they aren't scared of anything.

Many areas of the world have been trouble with pests and animals that are considered a threat to crops and produce. In an effort to control the populations of these animals, humans have introduced predators. The goal is to find an animal that will prey on the creatures that are destroying crops. But the results are often unpredictable, and occasionally disastrous. In Fiji, and many other Pacific islands, sugar cane is an important crop. Rats and mice thrive on sugar cane, causing massive increases in production costs due to their consumption and contamination of the food. The Indian mongoose was a natural candidate for the government that sought to find a predator that could easily kill and eat the rodents. The mongoose did a very effective job, easily cutting the rodent population in a timely fashion. The mongoose also preyed on venomous snakes, which were a serious hazard to the workers in the cane fields. This was considered a positive in the efforts to make sugar cane farming easier. But those introducing the mongoose didn't consider the fact that the snakes were already a great predator for the rodents and that reducing the snake population would give the rats and mice an advantage. Luckily, the mongoose filled the void and killed the rodents that the snakes had been preying on. But the mongoose has few predators on the island and they multiplied rapidly. Stealthy and very agile, their speed gives the mongoose a great advantage over larger animals, making them very formidable and difficult to catch or take down. The mongoose is one of the few animals capable of killing many large snakes. The biggest problem with the mongoose came when they also began preying on lizards and birds. They even took the eggs from birds' nests. The population of birds in Fiji was rapidly threatened. The mongoose prey on migratory birds and domestic poultry as well. Being such capable hunters, these populations have also been affected. Humans seeks to control their environment and nature, often without enough understanding of the long term consequences. History is full of examples of how this has gone horribly wrong, as it did with the introduction of the mongoose here.

Murphy is a wonderful dog who would love to make friends with everybody, including the neighbourhood deer. When the herd crosses the path in front of him when he is out for his afternoon walk, he whines and pulls frantically at the leash to chase them. He can barely contain his excitement as he watches them run past and he sniffs eagerly at the ground where they just set foot. After the walk is over, old Murphy likes a good nap. But as we can see from his twitching toes and legs, the excitement is far from over for Murphy as he snoozes. He must be dreaming of the deer and galloping after them. It's tempting to wake him up but a good boy like Murphy deserves every moment of joy that life can bring. His family lets him sleep undisturbed so he can enjoy it all. Murphy is a lucky dog. He belonged to a serviceman in the U.S. military and he was dearly loved and well treated. But when his owner was deployed overseas, he placed Murphy in a caring home. Murphy was somehow not the right fit for this family in the long term, and he eventually found his way to a rescue facility. It was here that he waited a very short time before being discovered by a retired gentleman from North Carolina. These two bonded and became the best of friends. Murphy moved to Tennessee a few years later and it is here that he walks the neighbourhood, meeting his doggy friends and seeing the deer run past. Murphy's days are spent on meandering walks through the forest, chasing a ball in the back yard, sleeping by the fire and getting petted whenever he wants. Murphy really does live the good life, as every dog should.

A woman swims with a wild snapping turtle, feeds it and holds its hand. The turtle is large enough to take most of her hand in its mouth, but he shows his gentle side and does not bite her or act aggressive at all. The swimmer's slow and non-threatening approach sets the huge reptile at ease.

Chameleons are able to project their tongue like a torpedo to capture prey, such as insects. In as little as 0.07 seconds, the elastic tongue is propelled up to twice the length of their body. Faster than the eye can see, Lenny the chameleon catches a cricket and then tries to catch a fly. The action is slowed down with a GoPro to allow for a clearer view. Lenny lives happily at a pet store in Peterborough, Canada.

A curious gopher investigates a GoPro that is stationed at the entrance to his den. After having a good look at the lens, he becomes tired and backs up into the hole. He snuggles down at the entrance and shuts his eyes. It's clearly nap time for this tired little gopher. Eating dandelions in the sunshine must be harder than it looks!

There is a masked superhero in Toronto who has talents beyond what you see in the movies. He's literally able to pick up women all day long. With a blend of humor and charm, he sweeps them off their feet and into his arms. With a skill for engaging the crowd, he offers to pose with people for a picture. They get a little more than they bargained for when they suddenly find themselves hoisted off the ground or thrown over his shoulder. Even the dads get lifted which leaves the kids laughing. In a candid interview, Toronto's Spiderman talks openly about his job, his idea of a successful day, and even his laundry techniques. If you see him hanging around in the City of Toronto, stop and have a chat. Better yet, take a minute for a picture. And don't forget that Spiderman always appreciates your tips.

Silverback gorillas are the dominant males in a colony and they appear fearsome and serious. Weighing in at over 200 kg (440lbs) they are formidable animals with impressive power. Yet, they have a soft side too, as we see in this video. Charles is a 46 year old male who came to the Toronto zoo in 1974 as an orphan. He has sired 10 surviving offspring, including this playful little one. As Charles sat and looked out over the climbing structure where the females in the colony were eating and wandering, his baby came up and slapped him playfully on the back. With touching tenderness, Charles took the youngster by the arm and pulled him around for a quick cuddle and then a brief tickle. Pinning the baby gently to the net, he prodded the little one's ribs and seemed to be trying to evoke a little giggle. He then poked and prodded a little more, allowing the baby to climb on him and all around him. It would not have been surprising to see the large male pushing the baby aside, wanting peace and quiet, but the silverback gorilla seems to be enjoying the social time and the playful interaction almost as much as his child. When we see such gentle restraint and careful play, we cannot deny that these are animals with impressive intellect and heart warming compassion and awareness of the needs of other gorillas in the their family. They are a lot like we are, and they deserve the same respect and compassion from us. Yet, these gorillas are critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and other human influence. To lose such magnificent animals forever would be beyond tragic.

A very tiny bunny was found on its own and brought to a veterinarian. Here we see her caring for the bunny, bringing it home from her clinic each night to hand feed it every three hours. Thankfully this adorable little creature gets a second chance at life!

Humpback whales are incredibly majestic animals that inspire awe in anyone who sees one. Believed to be among the most intelligent creatures after humans, they are beautiful and mysterious. To actually swim with one is life changing. These lucky people were swimming in the waters of Tonga, hoping to see these magnificent whales in their own habitat. They didn't expect to be so close as a gigantic male rocketed upwards and exploded through the surface in a spectacular breach. The incident was thrilling, and a little unsettling at the same time as this 50,000kg giant was not far away from the swimmers when le leaped in the air and came crashing down again. The true enormity of a whale cannot be fully appreciated until you see one from such a close vantage point. One of the swimmers captured the footage on his GoPro as he was watching another whale below. The second whale appeared on his left and was obviously heading up to breach. The fish eye lens of the GoPro makes the whale appear to be farther away than he actually was. The camera man lifted the camera out of the water and then plunged it back under the surface again in order to capture the entire event. As the group exchanged looks of astonishment and wonder, they yelled and cheered with excitement over what they had just witnessed. Humpback whales travel from all over the planet, arriving in Tonga for breeding and mating. It is one of the few places on earth where the calves are safe from killer whales, their most common predator. The whales eat krill in the colder waters, storing up their fat reserves for the long migration to these tropical waters. They do not need to eat while they are here. Females will spend several months nursing their calves until they are large enough to make the journey back to their feeding grounds at the end of the year. Humpback whales have been declining in numbers in the last two centuries. Whaling for commercial products and oils, as well as increased interference from shipping have taken a huge toll on the populations around the world. Losing these magnificent animals forever would be beyond tragic.

Divers in Belize were conducting a 3 minute safety stop, a necessary step before returning to the boat. This is crucial for expelling nitrogen in the diver's blood which can cause serious injury. They were surprised by the sudden appearance of a nine foot long reef shark who took a sudden interest in one diver's feet. The shark abruptly turned and came up right under the diver. His shock and fear is obvious as he tries to pull his feet up and away from the shark. The animal makes a few more passes, moving quickly among the nervous divers. Most encounters like this are due to curiosity and not aggression, but when it was so unexpected, these divers were very happy to see the shark swim away!

Caramel is a wonderful cow who lives on a beautiful free range farm in Millbrook, Ontario. Her days here are happy as she wanders with her herd over lush, green meadows and grazes contentedly. She has ponds for water, a forested area to explore, and rolling hills that create a scene like a landscape painting. The farmers place the emphasis on herd health and happiness, refusing to cut corners for profit. They will not produce veal and they never separate calves from their mothers, which is a heart breaking part of the dairy industry. Every drop of the mother's milk goes to her new baby. This is no ordinary day for Caramel. She is about to give birth to a new calf. As instinct tells her to do, she finds a quiet spot away from the rest of the herd and she lies down on a slope, waiting as the contractions start. Her water has broken and her amniotic sac is bulging. She knows it is time. Within moments of lying down, the baby starts to emerge. It isn't moving and it is encased in the thick amniotic sac. Although calm at the beginning, Caramel begins to bellow loudly and she sniffs at her calf before it is even fully out. It's possible that this is a pain reaction, but it's also possible that she is trying to make the baby move so she is reassured that it is alright. With the baby almost all of the way out, Caramel shrieks and stands up abruptly, causing the baby to fully enter the world. This breaks the umbilical cord and the calf is truly born. In the wild, cows are prey animals and they know that predators will be attracted to the smell of the afterbirth. For the safety of both, she frantically tries to eat all of the amniotic sac as quickly as possible. While the calf is unable to stand, she must be sure to avoid attracting any attention. Licking the calf clean is also for protection, but it provides stimulation and helps the mother and calf bond and recognize the scent of the other. Within 15 minutes the calf is much more alert and it tries to stand. Caramel is eager to encourage the calf and she licks and nudges the calf repeatedly. It needs the first milk that she produces for antibodies and high protein. This colostrum is very important for the calf's immune system and future health. Within seconds of the birth, other cows in the meadow came running with bellows of their own. They had been quietly grazing as she gave birth but they clearly recognized the moment of importance and circled Caramel with concerned moos. They sniffed her calf and watched with excitement. Being highly social herd animals, some of their behaviour is protective. Some of it is curiosity and some of it may their way of congratulating Caramel, relieved that the bay is healthy. Once on her feet, little "Holly" found her way to the milk supply and nursed greedily. She stood back legs first with an adorable clumsiness that resembled a newborn deer. Caramel ate grass with a surprising appetite throughout this. Holly is one of more than 25 calves born in this herd this spring. She will grow quickly and have a wonderful life on this incredible farm.

A baby rabbit, only a few days old, was taken from the nest by a cat. He is so young that he has not even opened his eyes yet. The bunny was bitten on the head and face and needed emergency medical care. Jess, a very caring Veterinary Technician, hand feeds the bunny, re-hydrates him and and explains her treatment of the wounds as they prepare him for his journey to an animal rehab center. He is expected to make a full recovery and eventually be released back into the wild.

The birdwing butterflies are the largest in the world. There are 36 recognized species living throughout Asia and Australasia. They are enormous and beautiful, with some reaching a wingspan of up to ten inches (20cm). The butterflies are colorful and ornate, in most cases, with striking wing patterns. This gorgeous female begins life as the spiky and beautifully colored caterpillar that can be seen devouring the leaves of the vine that it is inhabiting. Voracious eaters that do not travel far, the caterpillars can strip a plant if there are too many in one area. The caterpillars are highly toxic due to their diet. The vines they feed upon contain aristolchic acid, a poisonous compound that is carcinogenic. Even after metamorphosis, the butterflies are also toxic to predators. Huge and spiky, the caterpillar is not an easy meal, even without its toxicity. If provoked, the caterpillar can release a fetid compound to deter animals. This enormous caterpillar formed a chrysalid that was camouflaged to look like a dead leaf. A delicate thread holds the chrysalid suspended under a leaf. After several weeks, the butterfly emerged and spent the day stretching and drying its wings for flight. The male of the species is even more colorful than this female, as beautiful as she is. Nature enthusiasts who had been photographing this butterfly at Walindi Resort in Papua New Guinea were treated to quite a show. It emerged early in the morning, stretching and flapping and putting on a wonderful show for those who had been watching. Early in the afternoon, the butterfly took off and flew from its resting place. This butterfly will mate and lay eggs, living up to three months as an adult. One of the naturalists placed a hand carefully behind the butterfly to provide a sense of scale. It is easy to see why the butterfly is names "birdwing".

This beautiful little Damsel fish objects to being on camera. It even goes so far as to bite the cameraman's finger! You can't help but admire the ferociousness and determination.

A Rolls Royce makes a spectacular impression everywhere it goes. This was was being filmed in a park near Peterborough and two young car enthusiasts came over to see what was happening and hoping to get a picture. Instead, they were invited to sit in the driver's seat and take some selfies. The most impressive thing though, was the umbrella secretly hidden in each door. Their reaction to all of this was hilarious. One literally jumped for joy!