Zoos, aquariums, and other nature parks are some of the top family-friendly destinations worldwide. However, staying at home and practicing social distancing means access to wildlife experiences is very limited. Luckily, some zoos and aquariums provide live footage of their beloved creatures, giving families a chance to experience the wonder of wildlife without leaving the house. Some facilities even offer fun daily shows and activities on their webpages or social media pages. We have them all for you on the last page.

The San Diego Zoo

If you’re looking for variety, the San Diego Zoo’s 9 live stream cameras are a good choice. Each camera features new footage each day from exhibits starring apes, baboons, condors, elephants, koalas, pandas, penguins, polar bears, and tigers. The ape cam is one of the most popular choices because it focuses on a habitat that includes both brightly-colored orangutans and black-furred siamangs, which are a type of small gibbon.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cams

The world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium in California features several different live cams on their YouTube channel. One of the most popular is the sea otter cam, which regularly features feedings and other exciting otter moments. Other great choices for families are the colorful coral reef cam and the live shark cam. If relaxation is your goal, cameras in the kelp forest and the moon jelly tank offer a mesmerizing aquatic experience.

Cincinnati Zoo’s Daily Livestream

Learn more about a new animal each weekday with the Cincinnati Zoo’s daily live stream, Home Safari. It broadcasts at 3 p.m. Eastern time on Facebook Live and includes an at-home activity for kids. Don’t worry if you can’t make the live stream because the videos are posted on YouTube afterward. Past stars include elephants, giraffes, snow leopards, and Fiona the hippo, one of Cincinnati zoo’s most popular attractions.

National Aquarium’s Live Cams

Check out the National Aquarium’s cams for under-the-sea exploration. They have three cameras—Blacktip Reef, Pacific Coral Reef, and Jellies Invasion—each of which focuses on a unique underwater habitat. The cameras are only live during business hours, but viewers are welcome to watch recorded footage anytime. The aquarium website also offers fun activities, including coloring pages and word searches.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

The Brisbane-based Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary features 18 cameras. Marsupial-loving observers can enjoy viewing the Koala Forest, Young Joey Tracker, Jumping Koala Joey, or Koala Train habitats. If you somehow eventually tire of looking at cute koalas, this site also features other interesting animals, including dingos, monitor lizards, bearded dragons, and possums.

Houston Zoo Webcams

The Houston Zoo provides viewers with six camera feeds to choose from on its website. The cameras give viewers a glimpse of the zoo’s largest animals and smallest critters, from elephants to leafcutter ants. Primate fans also have a chance to see some of their favorite animals on the gorilla habitat cam or the chimp window cam.

Smithsonian National Zoo

Check out the Smithsonian National Zoo through its four webcams. Three are placed in habitats of crowd favorites: lions, giant pandas, and elephants. If you’re looking for something a little more unusual, the zoo also has an oddly-fascinating Naked Mole Rat Cam.

Memphis Zoo Webcams

The Tennessee-based Memphis Zoo has three webcams available on its website. Viewers can tune in and observe two pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le, playing in their pen. Viewers may also witness the zoo’s two hippos, Splish and Biniti, splashing in an outdoor pool, or elephants strolling around the grounds of the African Veldt habitat.

Elmwood Park Zoo

Elmwood Park Zoo in Morristown, Pennsylvania has created a new educational Facebook Live program for families called Zoo School Live. Check in every day at 11 a.m. Eastern time to watch one of the zoo staff discuss a featured Animal Ambassador. Videos are posted on YouTube for those who can’t make the live stream. For more animal footage, you can also check out their live giraffe cam or eagle cam.

Georgia Aquarium

Located in Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium is one of the biggest aquariums in the world. Viewers can enjoy some of its most beautiful exhibits from the comforts of their own homes thanks to multiple webcam feeds, which are available during normal business hours. View a menagerie of sea life including penguins, jellyfish, piranha, sea otters, sea lions, and puffins.

Available Live Streams

All of your favorite live stream links are available here.

• San Diego Zoo
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Cincinnati Zoo
• National Aquarium
• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
• Houston Zoo
• Smithsonian National Zoo
• Memphis Zoo
• Elmwood Park Zoo
• Georgia Aquarium