Virtual Zoo

Sick kid, rainy day, or a simply a child that's obsessed with animals?  These websites equipped with animal webcams are a fun way to bring the zoo to your living room (there are even a few cams that can be uploaded through an app to your phone!)

The Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington D.C.: 

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/webcams/

• Asian Small-clawed otter cam
• Clouded leopard cam
• Fishing cats cam
• Lion cam
• Naked Mole-Rat cam
• Orangutan cam
• Panda cam
• NEW elephant cam
• 
  

Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Washington:

http://www.zoo.org/giraffecam#.U71Qz_lVXC5

• Dave, a giraffe that is just shy of one year old
• If Dave is off-camera, you can view highlights from the webcam.  There is also a short video of the birth and his first moments with his mom.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, California: 

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-and-experiences/live-web-cams

• Kelp Forest Cam
• Sea Otter Cam
• Penguin Cam
• Open Sea Cam
• Aviary Cam
• Monterey Bay Cam

Minnesota DNR: 

http://www.webcams.dnr.state.mn.us/eagle/

• Watch our National bird lay eggs and take care of her young in frigid Minnesota weather!  
• This site gives information about the eagle's comeback after being close to extinction, and many other interesting facts about these gorgeous birds!
• This site has a mobile version

National Geographic CritterCam and WildCam: 

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/crittercam-wildcam/

• CritterCam: A camera that is worn by a wild animal giving the viewer the animal's point of view.  This data is also used by scientists to study the animal's behavior and environment.
• WildCam: These camera's take you to our Earth's last remaining wild places.  The current camera takes you to Pete's Pond in Botswana, Africa, where animals go about their daily lives. 

Enjoy!  Do you have any favorite animal cams?