@thenationalaq This young sea turtle came to us in critical condition — covered in barnacles and barely able to move. Reminder: Never attempt to remove barnacles yourself. If you find a turtle in distress, please contact us immediately. #thenationalaquariumabudhabi #wildliferescue #seaturtles #barnacles #barnacleremoval ♬ original sound – TNAToks

Almost all sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered under the IUCN Red List. That’s why helping a turtle is not only the compassionate thing to do, but it’s also important for the future of these creatures. Luckily, the team at the The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi are doing just that. They recently shared how they helped a sea turtle covered in barnacles, saving its life.

As we’ve previously seen, barnacles may seem small and insignificant, but they can cause great damage to the turtles. They can add weight and block their eyes and nostrils, making it easier for predators to catch them. The sea turtle assisted by the aquarium was barely moving, so they quickly got to work. “Our team completed a full health assessment before beginning the barnacle removal,” they say in a now-viral video.

In the video, a veterinarian can be seen slowly but steadily removing the barnacles, one by one. Soon, the turtle’s shell recovers its dark green-gray shade. While the places where the barnacles injured the turtle can be seen, the animal seems to be in good spirits, flapping its arms after being run under the water tap and tickled by the staff. “Now that’s a real sign of positive energy,” they say.

The next step will be running further tests to identify any underlying conditions that led to the turtle being covered in barnacles. “Barnacles often attach when a turtle is already sick or weak,” the aquarium explains. And while it may be tempting to help a turtle like this if you ever encountered one, the team says that this has to be done by professionals as doing it carelessly can inflict more damage than good.

The team is no stranger to going the extra mile to help injured or distressed turtles. Other videos show them helping various turtles, including one with a sliced shell, another with a massive cyst on its head, and yet another of rescued baby sea turtles being nurtured before they are released into the ocean.

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi boasts one of the largest wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release programs in the Middle East. “In partnership with Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi, our team rescues injured marine animals across the emirate. To date, we have rescued, rehabilitated, and released more than 1,300 sea turtles back into the wild,” the aquarium shares in the comments.

To stay up to date with the heartfelt interventions and efforts from this organization, make sure to follow The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi on Instagram and TikTok. If you’re ever in Abu Dhabi, you can also learn more about their labor by visiting the aquarium. You can plan your visit on their website.

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi shared how they helped a sea turtle covered in barnacles, saving its life.

@thenationalaq He arrived covered in barnacles — skinny, exhausted, and in need of urgent help. After a full barnacle removal, he’s already feeling lighter and on the road to recovery. If you ever see a turtle in trouble, please contact us anytime. Your call can save a life. Come visit us at The National Aquarium to meet our rescued sea turtles as they recover before being released back into the ocean. #SeaTurtleRescue #TheNationalAquarium #MarineConservation #RescueRehabRelease #abudhabi ♬ original sound – TNAToks

The team is no stranger to going the extra mile to help injured or distressed turtles.

@thenationalaq Another chapter in our turtle rescue story. Meet Shieka — our green sea turtle who needed a delicate surgery to get her second chance back in the ocean. With the incredible care of our vet Dr. Natassia and Dr. Jim from @europetsclinic Sharjah, who generously volunteered his expertise, the surgery was a success. Our doctors were able to remove the entire cyst at the back of her head — weighing 85 grams — giving Shieka a real shot at a healthy, wild future. This is more than just a procedure. It’s another story of care, dedication, and hope for our oceans — and we’re so proud to share it. Thank you to @environmentabudhabi and everyone who makes moments like this possible. #SeaTurtleRescue #Shieka #WildlifeRescue #MarineConservation #thenationalaquariumabudhabi #EuroPets #EAD #abudhabi #environmentalagencyabudhabi ♬ original sound – TNAToks

Other videos show them helping a turtle with a sliced shell.

@thenationalaq Meet Kraken One of our most special rescue cases this year — found with a crack across his carapace, fighting through every challenge. Our team is using advanced negative pressure therapy to support his healing, giving him the best chance at recovery. Every rescue has a story. This is Kraken’s #WildlifeRescue #SeaTurtle #NationalAquariumAD #RescueRehabRelease #Conservation ♬ original sound – TNAToks

The also look after rescued baby sea turtles before they are released into the ocean.

@thenationalaq It’s Aqua Babies Month! Come say hi to our adorable rescued baby sea turtles before they head home to the ocean! ✨ #aquababies #babyseaturtle #wildliferescue #thenationalaquariumabudhabi #seaturtles ♬ Cheerful Baby – FASSounds

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi: Website | Instagram | TikTok

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READ: Kind Aquarium Workers Save Young Sea Turtle’s Life by Removing Barnacles Covering Its Entire Body

Not a photo of the actual cougars. (Photo: Richard Callupe via Unsplash)

For more than a century, cougars in Minnesota occupied a space somewhere between ecological memory and modern folklore. Although hikers, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts occasionally reported sightings or captured indistinct trail camera images, researchers lacked definitive evidence that the elusive predators had successfully reproduced within the state. That uncertainty has now shifted dramatically.

Researchers in northern Minnesota recently documented trail camera footage of a female cougar accompanied by multiple kittens, providing the first confirmed evidence of a reproducing cougar population in the state in more than 100 years. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced the discovery, which has generated widespread interest among wildlife biologists, conservationists, and animal enthusiasts.

The footage emerged in late March near Voyageurs National Park after researchers positioned trail cameras beside a deer carcass to monitor scavenger activity. Rather than documenting the expected wolves or bobcats, the cameras captured a far more consequential scene. A mother cougar appeared alongside three kittens as the animals moved together through the snow-covered forest landscape.

Scientists estimate the kittens to be approximately 7 to 9 months old, suggesting they were born during the previous fall. While solitary cougars have intermittently traveled through Minnesota in recent decades, biologists identify this footage as the first verified evidence of cougar reproduction in the state since the species largely disappeared from the Midwest during the early 20th century.

The recordings provide an unusually intimate glimpse into the behavior of one of North America’s most elusive predators. The kittens feed beside their mother, investigate their surroundings, and interact with one another in ways that mirror the social play behaviors observed in domestic felines. Researchers monitored the cougar family through several hours of trail camera footage, allowing for an extended observation rarely achieved in the wild.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, most cougar sightings documented in the state over the past two decades involved young males dispersing eastward from western populations in states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Female cougars seldom travel comparable distances, making the presence of a mother with kittens especially significant. The discovery suggests that cougars may gradually begin reestablishing a breeding population within the region.

Even so, wildlife experts remain cautious about characterizing the sighting as evidence of a full-scale population recovery. Cougar kittens face substantial environmental pressures, including severe winters, predators, habitat fragmentation, and vehicle collisions. Nevertheless, the footage represents a major milestone for researchers who have spent years monitoring Minnesota’s northern forests for indications of the species’ return.

For many observers, the discovery carries an almost mythic quality. Cougars once vanished from the region entirely, receding into the distant history of the Upper Midwest’s ecosystems. Now, through the quiet vigilance of a trail camera hidden deep within the forest, a new generation of wild cougars has reentered public view.

Source: News release: Evidence of reproducing cougar population in Minnesota

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READ: Wild Cougar Family Spotted in Minnesota for the First Time in Over a Century

Southern Right Whales near Hermanus in South Africa. (Photo: Olga Ernst via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

After centuries of commercial whaling pushed them to the brink of extinction, the population of southern right whales has slowly begun to recover. However, new research suggests that climate change may now be affecting that progress. Scientists have discovered that warming oceans are associated with a decline in the number of calves born to these massive marine mammals.

Southern right whales reproduce slowly under normal conditions, with females historically giving birth every three years. Recently, however, researchers have observed longer gaps between births. In some cases, mothers are now having calves closer to every four years.

Scientists believe that change may be tied to warming waters in the Antarctic Ocean, where the whales spend much of their time feeding. Southern right whales rely heavily on krill-like crustaceans that thrive in cold, nutrient-rich waters. As ocean temperatures rise and sea-ice patterns shift, krill populations can change as well. When food becomes harder to find, female whales may struggle to build the energy reserves needed for pregnancy and nursing.

Researchers identified the pattern by studying decades of whale observations along Australian coastlines. By tracking individual whales that return to the same calving grounds year after year, scientists were able to monitor long-term birth trends. Over time, the data revealed that the interval between calves has gradually increased.

Although southern right whales are still recovering from the era of industrial whaling, slower reproduction could make that recovery more difficult. When species reproduce less frequently, population growth slows—even if adult whales survive. The findings highlight how climate change is influencing ocean ecosystems in complex ways. Even species that have rebounded from past threats may face new challenges as their environment continues to shift.

Scientists studying long-term whale populations found that female southern right whales are having calves less often, possibly due to changes in krill availability linked to climate change.

Photo: EjGarcia/Depositphotos

Although the species has rebounded in many regions, researchers warn that slower reproduction cycles could make future population recovery more difficult.

Photo: prochazka.foto@seznam.cz/Depositphotos

Sources: Southern Right Whales Are Having Fewer Calves; Scientists Say a Warming Ocean Is to Blame, Southern right whales are having fewer calves: What this says about ocean health, Declining birth rates in southern right whales alarm researchers in new study

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READ: Warming Oceans May Be Causing One Whale Species To Have Fewer Calves

 

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One of the most beloved African elephants has sadly passed away at the age of 54 due to natural causes. The “super tusker” known as Craig lived and died at Amboseli National Park in Kenya. It is with much grief that the native people, conservationist community, and all who knew Craig throughout his life, say goodbye.

Craig lived a peaceful, solitary life. Unlike many bulls, he often kept to himself, moving deliberately across the landscape, blazing his own path. But he was never without his fans, admirers, and guardians. Rangers, conservationists, photographers, local community members, and wildlife enthusiasts across the world followed his story, drawn to his calm presence and unmistakable grandeur. He was under the watchful eye of the Massai who kept him safe from poachers and who had a mutual understanding with him. They were never scared of each other.

Craig was the definition of a gentle giant—majestic because of his size, stature, and, of course, his iconic long tusks, yet calm in his demeanor. His super tusks weighed over 45 kilograms (almost 100 pounds) each, and were an estimated at 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) in length. Because of this, he was a valuable target to ivory poachers, who are responsible for the sharp decline in super tuskers, with less than 30 left in the world. Craig’s life was a testament to the unwavering protection of locals and the conservationists that gave him the full and happy life he deserved.

His legacy lives on in the young bulls he fathered, who carry his strong genes, and in the many people worldwide who feel more deeply connected to elephants because they knew of Craig. Protecting super tuskers like Craig and all elephants at risk of being killed for their tusks requires the same dedication shown to Craig. His long, peaceful life proves that elephants can thrive when humans choose protection over exploitation.

You can stay up to date with amazing conservation efforts for African elephants like Craig by following Amboseli Trust for Elephants on Instagram and Facebook.

A beloved African elephant named Craig, known for his super long tusks and gentle nature, has sadly passed away.

The famed super tusker lived a long and peaceful life in Kenya under the watch of the Massai people.

 

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His tusks were several times larger and heavier than the typical African elephant’s tusks, weighing about 100 pounds each and nearly 7 feet long.

 

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Typical young African elephant bull. (Photo: L0k1m0nk33 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Craig leaves a legacy of resilience, peace, and hope in his story and in the young elephants he fathered, passing on his valuable genes to bring back the once great population of super tuskers.

 

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Amboseli Trust for Elephants: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Source: Conservationists in Kenya pay tribute to beloved ‘super tusker’ elephant Craig, who died at age 54

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READ: Beloved African Elephant Craig the “Super Tusker” Dies at 54 Years Old

Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) (Photo: Arturo de Frias Marques via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

At the 20th conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), more than 185 countries voted to increase legal protections for 70 shark and ray species. It was announced in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, that new protections under an international wildlife trade treaty are to be implemented, and they will take effect within three to 18 months. Their population declines are driven by overfishing and high demand for their body parts.

Unlike many other marine species like whales and turtles, sharks and rays did not gain protection 40 years ago, and are suffering because of it. Wedgefish and similar guitarfish are being hunted for shark fin soup; gulper sharks are being killed for their liver oil, which is used for moisturizers and antioxidants; and rays are being targeted for their gill plates in traditional medicine. These expanded protections are especially important because these species are vulnerable due to their slow growth and late reproduction.

Each species was newly placed or moved up in an appendix based on the level of protection the species needs. Rather than banning trade entirely, the treaty strengthens regulation by requiring countries to prove that shark and ray products are sourced legally and sustainably. Appendix I protects endangered species and prohibits all commercial international trade. Moved into this category were whale sharks, oceanic white tip sharks, and manta rays. Appendix II protects threatened species and now includes gulper sharks, smooth-hound sharks, and guitarfish.

Sharks and rays play a crucial role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, and their loss can disrupt entire ocean food webs. While implementation challenges remain, experts are calling this decision a watershed moment that could help safeguard some of the ocean’s most threatened species.

In an important and overdue move, 185 countries gathered in Uzbekistan and agreed to protect 70 species of sharks and rays.

Whale shark in the Andaman Sea (Photo: Abe Khao Lak via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.00

These species are facing overhunting for their body parts, which are coveted for their medicinal and antioxidant properties.

Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) (Photo: Jerome Paillet via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)

There are three levels of protection, and each species was placed based on their endangerment status and how much protection they need.

Giant guitarfish (Photo: Brian Gratwicke via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

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READ: 185 Countries Agree To Protect 70 Species of Endangered Sharks and Rays

When winter arrives and temperatures drop, humans aren’t the only ones that need to dress accordingly to keep warm. Endangered Asian elephants at a Wildlife SOS conservation center in northern India have been known to wear beautiful, handmade “sweaters” during wintry weather.

The 20 elephants the organization hosts are afflicted by blindness, lameness, or recovering from other maladies. They were rescued from abusive situations like trafficking, circuses, street begging, and other illegal activities. As a result, they are more fragile and susceptible to diseases like pneumonia and arthritis flare-ups.

During a particularly cold winter in late 2016, early 2017, when temperatures in the region got close to freezing, local women volunteered to knit massive blankets to keep the elephants warm. The initiative began as an idea to knit blankets for elephants; however, the organization’s co-founders, Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Sheshamani, felt it would be better if each elephant got a fitted sweater.

Caring for elephants is a big job…literally. Everything they need requires more resources, more time, and more energy. As a result, it took volunteers four weeks to finish just one of the sweaters. It may look like crochet, but the volunteers were actually using knitting needles to complete the sweaters. This meant that it took longer to create, but they ultimately saved on materials, the results were softer, and they draped better.

In addition to the success of the sweaters, the elephants also got custom-fitted “jumbo jackets” to protect them from harsh weather and windchill. The elephants now continue living their best lives under the care of experienced rescuers.

Endangered Asian elephants at a conservation center in India are kept warm with giant “sweaters.”

 

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During a particularly harsh winter, local women volunteered to knit the sweaters for the rescued elephants.

 

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A post shared by Roger Allen (@rogerallenphotography)

It took about 4 weeks to complete just one of the sweaters, but it was well worth it to protect the elephants.

 

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A post shared by Roger Allen (@rogerallenphotography)

These gentle giants have also been given “jumbo jackets” to brave the cold.

Wildlife SOS: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Source: Knitting jumbo jumpers

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READ: These Rescue Elephants Wear Hand-Knitted Sweaters to Keep Warm in the Winter

 

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Una publicación compartida por Galápagos Conservancy (@galapagosconservancy)

Gramma, a Galapagos tortoise known for being the oldest animal in the San Diego Zoo, has died at about 141 years old. Born in her native habitat on the Galapagos Islands, her caretakers weren’t sure about her exact age. But what they did know is that she spent almost a century delighting visitors and serving as a beacon for conservation efforts around this endangered species.

The team devoted to her care had been following her bone conditions, which arose due to her advanced age, for some time. But sadly, as the issues worsened, the team had to make the heartbreaking yet humane decision to relieve her of the pain she was certainly experiencing.

Having arrived at the zoo between 1928 and 1931, Gramma’s life at the San Diego Zoo spans nearly the entire history of the institution itself. “It is astonishing to consider what Gramma lived through in her lifetime,” wrote the zoo in a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. “Through decades of technological advancement, she went from appearing in a handful of black-and-white photographs to becoming an ever-endearing social media star. Her care specialists affectionately called her ‘the Queen of the Zoo,’ and she truly was.”

At 141 years of age, Gramma was born into a completely different world, and witnessed many historical events. Namely, her lifespan comprised than 20 U.S. presidents, two world wars, and two pandemics. If she was born in 1844, as estimated, Gramma was as old as the Washington Monument. NPR notes that it was also the year the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal cornerstone was set and the Greenwich Meridian was established.

“Caring for such a remarkable tortoise was a privilege,” adds the San Diego Zoo. “Gramma’s devoted care team shared that she particularly loved romaine lettuce and cactus fruit. In her memory, we invite you to enjoy a generous, fruit-filled salad, a special tribute for a very special tortoise.”

To stay up to date with this formidable institution and its animal habitants, make sure to follow the San Diego Zoo on Instagram.

Gramma, a Galapagos tortoise known for being the oldest animal in the San Diego Zoo, has died at about 141 years old.

 

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Una publicación compartida por San Diego Zoo (@sandiegozoo)

San Diego Zoo: Website | Instagram

Sources: How a ‘sweet and shy' tortoise outlived empires and survived two world wars

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READ: Gramma the Galapagos Tortoise, Oldest Resident of the San Diego Zoo, Dies at 141

Photo: Chad Cocking/Remembering Wildlife

Remembering Wildlife is a book series that uses stunning visuals to educate the world about endangered wildlife, and to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the series has released its biggest book to date. 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife features not only some of the best images from previous books and winners of a photo contest, but it also contains a section of photographs of the world’s most trafficked animal—the pangolin.

Taken by the world’s leading wildlife photographers, this section gives incredible insight into the elusive pangolin. Native to Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, these animals are threatened by their use in traditional Chinese and Vietnamese medicine. In fact, according to Remembering Wildlife, one pangolin is plucked from the wild by a poacher every five minutes. While most of us will never have an in-person encounter with a pangolin, these critically endangered animals have slowly become a symbol for animal conservation.

All proceeds from the anniversary edition of Remembering Wildlife will go toward pangolin conservation projects. “Pangolins are fascinating and endearing creatures, most closely related to mongooses and cats, and each has its own individual character. The size of the illegal trade in pangolins may be higher than we know,” explains Margot Raggett MBE, founder and producer of Remembering Wildlife. “Fortunately, there are conservationists, researchers, vets, and volunteers all lending their energy and determination to a fight they are resolute they won’t lose. It is they we will support with funds from this book.”

Over the past 10 years, Remembering Wildlife has raised more than $1.68 million for conservation causes, from caring for white rhinos to providing livestock guarding dogs to reduce the number of farmers killing cheetahs. The series is the perfect example of the impact that art can have on important causes such as wildlife conservation.

Scroll down for a preview of the incredible pangolin imagery found in the book and then order your copy online directly from the Remembering Wildlife website.

10 Years of Remembering Wildlife is the anniversary edition of a photo book series created to educate the world about endangered animals.

Photo: Hendri Venter/Remembering Wildlife

Photo: Suzi Eszterhas/Remembering Wildlife

Photo: Armand Grobler/Remembering Wildlife

The book features incredible pictures of the critically endangered pangolin, which is under threat from poachers.

Photo: Naun Amable Silva/Remembering Wildlife

Photo: Pete Oxford/Remembering Wildlife

Photo: Marcus Westberg/Remembering Wildlife

Photo: Will Burrard-Lucas/Remembering Wildlife

All of the proceeds will go toward pangolin conservation projects.

Remembering Wildlife: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Remembering Wildlife.

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READ: World’s Best Wildlife Photographers Come Together in New Book To Shine Light on the Plight of Pangolins

Photo: Kabir Bakie via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

In just 50 years, or the lifetime of an orangutan, humans have destroyed half of Borneo’s rainforest and thereby endangered the lives of orangutans. Humans have invaded the rainforests of Borneo, where 90% of all orangutans live, for palm oil farms and coal mines. As a result, two-thirds of the Bornean orangutan populations has disappeared, leading the species to its current critically endangered status. Though it is clearly a conservation crisis, there is still some hope for the primates thanks to the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) foundation.

As the world’s largest orangutan conservation organization, BOS has a mission to save the rapidly diminishing population of orangutans and their rainforest. The nonprofit organization has been working in cooperation with the local community to preserve and restore the area’s biodiversity, and has restored over 500 acres by planting trees that help feed both people and primates. Borneo is home to 6% of the Earth’s biodiversity. BOS does its best to rehabilitate as many orangutans as possible for release into the wild.

Despite these great efforts, it often takes over five to 15 years to prepare these great apes with the necessary skills to survive in the wild, and this is part of the reason they have around 400 residents. They will care for 359 permanent residents as they are too sick, disabled, or docile to be considered for release.

Their important work is a lifeline for Bornean nature and global biodiversity beyond just orangutans fighting back against the damage caused by humans. These great apes will still need a lot of help getting back to where they were half a century ago, but BOS is affording orangutans some precious time and continues providing their species support.

The Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) foundation is fighting to save the orangutans and all Bornean biodiversity by restoring the rainforest.

 

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In just one orangutan’s lifetime, humans have destroyed 50% of Borneo’s rainforest and two-thirds of its orangutans.

Photo: Eric Kilby via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

To counter the damage done and preserve life, BOS shelters nearly 400 orangutans, and it can take 5 to 15 years to prepare an orangutan for release. Some will never leave care, but all are given a chance.

Photo: Bernard Dupont via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

BOS is buying time, rebuilding ecosystems, and pushing back against destruction, one orangutan at a time.

Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Borneo Orangutan Survival: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Source: An Orangutan Sanctuary in Borneo Is Giving the Endangered Primates a Second Chance, Just When They Need It Most

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READ: Orangutan Sanctuary Is Giving New Hope To Endangered Primates in Borneo

Photo: Pacific Southwest Region from Sacramento, U.S. via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

How long would you wait to capture the perfect moment on camera? A California photographer waited three years just to capture three minutes of footage depicting a rare mammal, the Sierra Nevada red fox.

Randy Robbins, the lucky photographer, actually spent a longer time researching the elusive Sierra Nevada red fox species than he did putting together the setup that made it all happen. And incredibly, it was all this preparation and study of animal behaviors that made it all happen.

The population of the Sierra Nevada red fox is believed to be under 100, making them nearly extinct. This particular subspecies of fox is notoriously reclusive, living high up in the mountains, nearly 6,000 feet above sea level.

Part of Robbins’ process for capturing footage of this rare species involved using camera traps, placed strategically on a ledge in Lassen Volcano National Park in Northern California. Robbins placed the camera on this ledge at an altitude of 8,500 feet, pressed record, and waited months for the snow to melt in the area before retrieving his equipment.

While this process may seem like a recipe for disappointment, it turned out to be anything but. Miraculously, Robbins caught not just a short glimpse of the red fox in the wild, but a three-minute clip that depicted a series of behaviors that, while seemingly ordinary, were still incredibly cute to watch.

In the fleeting footage captured by Robbins, the red fox walks into the frame of his camera while sniffing the ground. Then, the elusive species walks to the edge of the ravine where the camera is set up and looks out onto the landscape still covered in snow. The fox then sniffs the air some more, soaks in some more sun, and eventually disappears.

Robbins commented on the footage, saying, “It was really amazing. Normally, what you get is a quick glimpse, like you see a fox running across the screen. This was three minutes of just behavior—it was lounging in the sun and just, you know, being a fox.”

Three years of research and waiting for just three minutes of footage might sound wild, but for Robbins, it was more than worth it. His patience more than paid off, culminating in a rare and endearing glimpse into the lives of one of North America’s most elusive mammals. You can see this amazing footage for yourself below.

To keep up to date with the wildlife photographer, you can follow Randy Robbins on Instagram.

California wildlife photographer Randy Robbins waited three years for a glimpse of a rare North American fox.

Photo: Pacific Southwest Region from Sacramento, US via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

He spent years researching the Sierra Nevada red fox, an elusive subspecies which is running the risk of extinction.

Photo: Keith Slausen USFS/PSW via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Robbins placed a camera at the edge of a ravine he knew the foxes frequented, hit record, and only retrieved his equipment months later, hoping to catch a glimpse of these animals.

Photo: National Park Service via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

His gamble paid off: the camera recorded three minutes of rare fox behaviors. Watch Robbins’ incredible footage below.

Randy Robbins: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Sources: Near-Extinct Red Fox Caught on Trail Cam in National Park After Years of Hoping to Glimpse Elusive Creatures

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READ: Rare Red Fox Spotted for the First Time in Years in California National Park