Whether it’s a pair of hawks nesting over a bustling city,??? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????? or a young lioness lounging in the sun, when technology and animals peacefully combine the results can be phenomenal.

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That idea is no better exemplified than in the following wildlife livestreams, giving us a glimpse into the secret lives of animals around the world.

So, sit back, relax, and hit play on our picks for the best wildlife webcams around today.

International Wolf Center

Just south of the Canadian border, deep in the woods of Minnesota, a team of passionate biologists opened a habitat dedicated to researching gray wolves.

Nearly three decades later the habitat remains committed to sharing that research with anyone who will listen. The wolf cam is a continuous livestream of the center’s resident pack that’s been operating since 2013 where you can watch these elusive creatures eat, sleep, and relax in their enclosed habitat all throughout the day.

Bonaire Underwater Coral

Thanks to a restoration project dedicated to revitalizing shallow coral, the Dutch island of Bonaire is home to one of the healthiest and most vibrant coral reefs in the Caribbean.

This webcam was a set up in a collaborative project by Teens4Oceans, Harbour Village Beach Club, and the Harbor Village Reef Foundation. At any given point throughout the day, the livestream features hundreds of fish of varying species carrying on about their underwater lives.

New York University’s Hawk Cam

What started off as a random observation in 2011 has blossomed into a full-scale community obsession.

At the beginning of each spring for the last seven years, a pair of Red-tailed hawks nest on the window ledge of New York University's library overlooking New York City’s Washington Square Park. As soon as the pair arrive, the Hawk Cam becomes a continuous livestream that allows you to monitor the growth of their newly hatched eyasses (baby hawks) -- but then shuts off when the birds fly the nest.

Nikita the Lioness Cam

The Big Cat Sanctuary in Florida is an organization best known for its contributions to rehabilitating big cats who have been abused.

Nikita, the focus of this particular livestream, is a massive 500 pound lioness who was seized during a drug raid. Day by day viewers can tune in to watch her do what cats do best, nap in the sun.

Peregrine Falcon Cam

Sometimes even the fastest bird in the world needs to take a break. During the spring and summer months viewers can tune in to watch a pair of Peregrine falcons, Michelle and Newman, raise their young in a nest overlooking the Mississippi river in Minnesota. Tune in at night to see them at their most active.

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The webcam itself was established by the Raptor Resource Project, which specialize in the preservation of owls, falcons, ospreys, eagles, and hawks. It maintains and protects more than 50 nests nationwide.

The D.C. Arboretum Eagle Nest Cam

Watch the bald eagles here.

High above Washington, D.C., in the branches of a Tulip Poplar tree in the U.S. National Arboretum, a pair of eagles are raising their young.

Aptly named Mr.President and The First Lady, the two bald eagles have reared four eaglets so far, and can be seen during the summer months feeding their young. The American Eagle Foundation and the National Arboretum established the livestream to give viewers access to the national bird and to also monitor and preserve the species.

Alligator Swamp and Spoonbill Cam

Located in St. Augustine, Florida, this livestream provides an all access pass to the state’s natural ecosystem.

For those who tune in sporadically, alligators can be seen basking in the sun while spoonbills feed and prune in the trees.

The webcam was set up in 2012 and is provided by the St. Augustine Alligator Farm -- which isn’t exactly a farm but a modern day zoo that specializes in alligator research.

Puffin Burrow Cam

This livestream features a group of puffins who gather and nest during the spring and summer months 20 miles off the coast of Maine on Seal Island to nurture their young.

It’s very typical for puffin to return to the same spot each year to meet up with the same mate after spending months at sea. The baby puffin, or pufflings, are then raised and by the end of the summer, all will part ways.

The stream was set up in 2013 by the National Audubon Society, which is an organization dedicated to preserving habitats for birds.

Tembe Elephant Park Cam

Watch the elephant cam here.

Set up by a busy watering hole in South Africa, the Tembe Elephant Park camera can see anywhere between 50 and 60 elephants a day.

It’s run by volunteers around the world who are able to maneuver the camera to get the best possible angle. The park itself is a game reserve set up by a tribal council in order to better protect the elephant who is often the target of illegal poaching.

Brooks Falls Brown Bears

Tune in during late summer and you will not be disappointed. This little salmon haven in Alaska draws in masses of brown bears every year to plunder its natural splendor.

When the salmon stock is high, bears crowd the area with their young trying to fatten up for the fast approaching winter months. Sometimes a wolf or moose will pop in to join the fun.

The webcam was established back in 2012 by the Katmai National Park which is an animal reserve dedicated to researching the surrounding habitat.

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Topics Animals