{"id":40520,"date":"2024-08-02T16:58:22","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T14:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127fcb14-f7db-494e-af13-354bcb119a6f"},"modified":"2024-08-02T18:27:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T16:27:29","slug":"10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"10 of the world’s most uplifting wildlife stories from 2024 (so far)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Electric butterflies, cyclone-chasing seabirds and ridiculously cute baby cheetahs \u2013 BBC Wildlife Magazine’s pick of the most amazing wildlife stories from the year so far. <\/p>

By Daniel Graham\n <\/p>

Published: Friday, 02 August 2024 at 14:58 PM<\/p>

\n\n

There have been some incredible wildlife stories from around the world this year, from mesmerising natural spectacles to astonishing new discoveries about the ways animals behave and what they go through to survive.<\/strong><\/p>

Here at BBC Wildlife Magazine<\/em>, we’ve been lucky enough to report on a few of these positive stories. Picking the top 10 was a hard job, but we’ve given it a go. So, without further ado, here they are…<\/p>

Earlier this year, a ‘coral superhighway’ spanning more than one million square kilometres was found in the Indian Ocean. Credit: Christophe Mason-Parker<\/figcaption><\/figure>
10 positive wildlife stories from 2024<\/h2>
Cheetah cubs born in Saudi Arabia<\/h3>
Four small furry bundles<\/a> with distinctive ginger and black-spotted fur, dark tear tracks and coal-black noses have raised hope of a once extinct species returning to its historic hunting grounds on the Arabian Peninsula. The iconic\u00a0 big cats<\/a>, speed racers of the animal kingdom, have become a focus of attention in Saudi Arabia ever since the discovery of mummified cheetahs in caves in the north of the country.<\/p>
$\"Cheetah$
Adorable photo of the captive-bred cheetah cubs settling into their new home. Credit: National Center for Wildlife<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Astonishing \u2018explosion of life\u2019 coral spawning in Cambodia<\/h3>
A mass coral reef spawning<\/a> event was observed in Cambodian waters for the very first time. The incredible phenomenon, captured in a series of mesmerising videos, demonstrates that coral in the area remains healthy despite challenging conditions, say marine scientists.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Coral$
Mesmerising coral spawning event in Cambodia. Credit: Sorn Srenh, Koh Sdach Community Fishery<\/figcaption><\/figure>
There’s a rare ocean bird that actually chases tropical cyclones<\/h3>
A groundbreaking study revealed that Desertas petrels, a rare but wide-ranging seabird in the North Atlantic, actively seek out tropical cyclones<\/a> to help them survive. Researchers say this unique behaviour, which is all to do with food, provides new insights into the impact of cyclones on open ocean\u00a0 marine life<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Atlantic$
“We nearly fell off our chairs,” said the scientists who made the discovery. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Hippos can fly (sort of)<\/h3>
The common hippopotamus, or\u00a0 hippo<\/a>, is one of the world’s largest living land\u00a0mammals. Yet despite their size, these hefty giants spend around 15% of time ‘suspended’ in the air<\/a> when running, say scientists after an in-depth study earlier this year.<\/p>
$\"Hippo$
Despite its barrel-shaped body, short legs and huge head, the hippo can reach speeds of up to 19mph. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
‘Electric butterflies’ can pull pollen through the air like superheroes<\/h3>
A new study<\/a> has revealed that the electrostatic field created by butterflies and moths in flight allows them to attract pollen grains from flowers\u00a0across air gaps\u00a0up to several centimetres wide, like telekinetic superheroes.<\/p>
$\"Butterflies$
The new findings suggest that a butterfly’s electric field increases its efficiency and effectiveness as a pollinator. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Elephants have names for each other, just like humans<\/h3>
Dolphins<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0 parrots<\/a>\u00a0are known to address each other by mimicking the sounds they hear other members of their species make, but only humans are known to address each other using names they make up. Or so we thought. Now scientists have discovered that wild elephants give each other names<\/a> in much the same we do, meaning they may also be capable of abstract thought.<\/p>
$\"Elephants$
The study was based on almost 500 different calls made by African elephants. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Indian tree frog has upside-down sex<\/h3>
Of all 7,708 species of frogs\u00a0known to science, the Charles Darwin\u2019s frog \u2013 endemic to the Andaman Archipelago in the Indian Ocean \u2013\u00a0is the only one known to\u00a0 breed\u00a0upside-down<\/a>, discovered a team of scientists from India and the USA.<\/p>
$\"Minervarya$
Minervarya charlesdarwini breeding upside-down. Credit: S. D. Biju<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Deep-sea ‘galaxy’ discovered off the coast of Chile<\/h3>
The deepest photosynthesising coral in the world and 160 species \u2013 at least 50 of which are believed to be new to science \u2013 were observed during a deep-sea expedition<\/a> at Chile\u2019s Salas y G\u00f3mez Ridge.<\/p>
$\"Galaxy$
A galaxy siphonophore observed during one of the dives along a transect on the northern flank of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island along the Salas y G\u00f3mez Ridge. Credit: ROV SuBastian \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Bornean clouded leopard family filmed in wild for first time ever<\/h3>
Extraordinary first-of-its-kind footage<\/a> captured a family of endangered Bornean clouded leopards walking through a forest in Indonesian Borneo.<\/p>
$\"Bornean$
Click on the link above to watch the Bornean clouded leopard family in wild for first time ever. Credit: Orangutan Foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Critically endangered red handfish returned to the wild in Tasmania<\/h3>
18 critically endangered red handfish were released back into the wild<\/a> after being taken into captivity to protect them from marine heatwaves.<\/p>
$\"Red$
Red handfish settling back into home. Credit: Jemina Stuart-Smith IMAS<\/figcaption><\/figure>
**More amazing wildlife stories from around the world<\/strong><\/p>**
**A tree that can walk? How one ‘walking tree’ is said to be able to move itself to a sunnier spot<\/a><\/li>**
**Diver films incredible feeding frenzy from inside a sardine mega-shoal<\/a><\/li>**
**Giant anteater twins filmed in Argentina for first time<\/a><\/li>**
World’s most invincible big cat filmed swimming across huge crocodile-infested river in Uganda<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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Electric butterflies, cyclone-chasing seabirds and ridiculously cute baby cheetahs \u2013 BBC Wildlife Magazine’s pick of the most amazing wildlife stories from the year so far. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":40521,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/08\/10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far.jpg",1875,1250,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/08\/10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/08\/10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/08\/10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/08\/10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/08\/10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/08\/10-of-the-worlds-most-uplifting-wildlife-stories-from-2024-so-far.jpg",1875,1250,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Electric butterflies, cyclone-chasing seabirds and ridiculously cute baby cheetahs \u2013 BBC Wildlife Magazine's pick of the most amazing wildlife stories from the year so far.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/40520"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

Earlier this year, a ‘coral superhighway’ spanning more than one million square kilometres was found in the Indian Ocean. Credit: Christophe Mason-Parker<\/figcaption><\/figure>
10 positive wildlife stories from 2024<\/h2>
Cheetah cubs born in Saudi Arabia<\/h3>
Four small furry bundles<\/a> with distinctive ginger and black-spotted fur, dark tear tracks and coal-black noses have raised hope of a once extinct species returning to its historic hunting grounds on the Arabian Peninsula. The iconic\u00a0 big cats<\/a>, speed racers of the animal kingdom, have become a focus of attention in Saudi Arabia ever since the discovery of mummified cheetahs in caves in the north of the country.<\/p>
$\"Cheetah$
Adorable photo of the captive-bred cheetah cubs settling into their new home. Credit: National Center for Wildlife<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Astonishing \u2018explosion of life\u2019 coral spawning in Cambodia<\/h3>
A mass coral reef spawning<\/a> event was observed in Cambodian waters for the very first time. The incredible phenomenon, captured in a series of mesmerising videos, demonstrates that coral in the area remains healthy despite challenging conditions, say marine scientists.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Coral$
Mesmerising coral spawning event in Cambodia. Credit: Sorn Srenh, Koh Sdach Community Fishery<\/figcaption><\/figure>
There’s a rare ocean bird that actually chases tropical cyclones<\/h3>
A groundbreaking study revealed that Desertas petrels, a rare but wide-ranging seabird in the North Atlantic, actively seek out tropical cyclones<\/a> to help them survive. Researchers say this unique behaviour, which is all to do with food, provides new insights into the impact of cyclones on open ocean\u00a0 marine life<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Atlantic$
“We nearly fell off our chairs,” said the scientists who made the discovery. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Hippos can fly (sort of)<\/h3>
The common hippopotamus, or\u00a0 hippo<\/a>, is one of the world’s largest living land\u00a0mammals. Yet despite their size, these hefty giants spend around 15% of time ‘suspended’ in the air<\/a> when running, say scientists after an in-depth study earlier this year.<\/p>
$\"Hippo$
Despite its barrel-shaped body, short legs and huge head, the hippo can reach speeds of up to 19mph. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
‘Electric butterflies’ can pull pollen through the air like superheroes<\/h3>
A new study<\/a> has revealed that the electrostatic field created by butterflies and moths in flight allows them to attract pollen grains from flowers\u00a0across air gaps\u00a0up to several centimetres wide, like telekinetic superheroes.<\/p>
$\"Butterflies$
The new findings suggest that a butterfly’s electric field increases its efficiency and effectiveness as a pollinator. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Elephants have names for each other, just like humans<\/h3>
Dolphins<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0 parrots<\/a>\u00a0are known to address each other by mimicking the sounds they hear other members of their species make, but only humans are known to address each other using names they make up. Or so we thought. Now scientists have discovered that wild elephants give each other names<\/a> in much the same we do, meaning they may also be capable of abstract thought.<\/p>
$\"Elephants$
The study was based on almost 500 different calls made by African elephants. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Indian tree frog has upside-down sex<\/h3>
Of all 7,708 species of frogs\u00a0known to science, the Charles Darwin\u2019s frog \u2013 endemic to the Andaman Archipelago in the Indian Ocean \u2013\u00a0is the only one known to\u00a0 breed\u00a0upside-down<\/a>, discovered a team of scientists from India and the USA.<\/p>
$\"Minervarya$
Minervarya charlesdarwini breeding upside-down. Credit: S. D. Biju<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Deep-sea ‘galaxy’ discovered off the coast of Chile<\/h3>
The deepest photosynthesising coral in the world and 160 species \u2013 at least 50 of which are believed to be new to science \u2013 were observed during a deep-sea expedition<\/a> at Chile\u2019s Salas y G\u00f3mez Ridge.<\/p>
$\"Galaxy$
A galaxy siphonophore observed during one of the dives along a transect on the northern flank of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island along the Salas y G\u00f3mez Ridge. Credit: ROV SuBastian \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Bornean clouded leopard family filmed in wild for first time ever<\/h3>
Extraordinary first-of-its-kind footage<\/a> captured a family of endangered Bornean clouded leopards walking through a forest in Indonesian Borneo.<\/p>
$\"Bornean$
Click on the link above to watch the Bornean clouded leopard family in wild for first time ever. Credit: Orangutan Foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Critically endangered red handfish returned to the wild in Tasmania<\/h3>
18 critically endangered red handfish were released back into the wild<\/a> after being taken into captivity to protect them from marine heatwaves.<\/p>
$\"Red$
Red handfish settling back into home. Credit: Jemina Stuart-Smith IMAS<\/figcaption><\/figure>
**More amazing wildlife stories from around the world<\/strong><\/p>**
**A tree that can walk? How one ‘walking tree’ is said to be able to move itself to a sunnier spot<\/a><\/li>**
**Diver films incredible feeding frenzy from inside a sardine mega-shoal<\/a><\/li>**
**Giant anteater twins filmed in Argentina for first time<\/a><\/li>**
World’s most invincible big cat filmed swimming across huge crocodile-infested river in Uganda<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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10 positive wildlife stories from 2024<\/h2>