Live cameras connected to the Web can be either incredibly fascinating or amazingly dull. Bypassing the absurd (such as The Peeling Paint Webcam), I’ve assembled a collection of animal cams that includes a virtual zoo, wild English badgers and a …[Continue]
Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are bustling underwater communities inhabited by thousands of species of animals and plants. Often mistaken for rocks or plants, coral is actually the limestone skeleton of a tiny spineless animal called a coral polyp. Coral reefs are mostly …[Continue]
Aquariums
Ladies and gentlemen, tighten your virtual seat belts, start your computers and rev up your mice. For this whirlwind aquarium tour, we will start with two stops in California, then on to New York, Oregon, and Tennessee. Sorry, no frequent …[Continue]
Tide Pools
The best time to view the many creatures that live along a rocky shore is during low tide, when pools of water and animals become trapped in the rocks. When climbing along the tide pools, take care not to harm …[Continue]
Seahorses
Seahorse dads actually get pregnant! I didn’t know this until I visited the Birch Aquarium with my daughter’s fifth-grade class last week. Besides my fascination with their parenting styles, I was mesmerized by their lyrical movements and colorful variety. Here …[Continue]
Cheetahs
The cheetah is a large, fast, spotted cat from the grassy plains of Africa. In short sprints, the cheetah can reach speeds of sixty miles per hour, earning it the title of fastest land mammal. Unfortunately, the cheetah is now …[Continue]
Virtual Zoos
In honor of April’s status as Zoo and Aquarium Month, I went searching for the best zoos on the Net. My objective, as always, was to find sites offering a quality educational experience, not just brochure sites listing hours and …[Continue]
Sharks
Roughly fifty of the approximately 350 species of sharks are considered dangerous for human swimmers. And although a scan of recent headlines may suggest that shark attacks have increased this year, experts report that statistically nothing has changed: annual worldwide …[Continue]
Giant Pandas
Although I didn’t want to wait in line in the hot summer sun, I was glad my visiting nieces insisted. I finally saw the giant pandas at the World Famous San Diego Zoo! Naturally this made me curious, and so …[Continue]
Penguins
What is it about penguins that makes them so adorable and so popular? Is it their dapper tuxedo coloring, their upright stance, or their amusing waddle? Whatever the reason, here’s the best of what the Web has to offer penguin …[Continue]
