Featured Image Credit: Kansas City Zoo
By Lindsay Edgar
By now, you’ve probably heard of (or even checked in on!) April, the pregnant giraffe at New York’s Animal Adventure Park. With help from the internet, April was able to reach somewhat of a celebrity status over the past few weeks and animal lovers everywhere are still eagerly expecting the birth of her calf. At its peak, the camera channel had 30 million viewers! The crazy part of the story is this – everyone can still tune in to watch her live over the web.
Believe it or not, April isn’t the first animal to be filmed on live streaming video. We fondly remember the live cam of the bald eagles Mr. President and the First Lady, who chose to make their nest in the United States National Arboretum. With viewers checking in over the course of a year, they became an internet sensation.
So, what’s the fascination with these animal webcams? People have become totally engaged in the lives of animals and their day to day activities. It’s refreshing to be able to check in on their status. Because the interest has been so widespread, non-profit organizations have used it to their benefit. The most compelling part of their work is on display and site visitors have the ability to contribute donations to the cause. These non-profits have raised millions of dollars so far and they give a major part of the credit to the webcams.
Technology has given animal conservation a major boost. It allows us to feel a personal connection with endangered species and to give to the organizations that protect them. Feel free to tune in to the latest webcams for the sake of wildlife conservation to make a difference!