Watch: Best wildlife sightings of 2024 in what was a ‘wild year’

David Strege

28 December 2024 at 8:14 pm·1-min read

Some of the most extraordinary wildlife videos are posted throughout the year by Latest Sightings, a South Africa-based site operated by Nadav Ossendryver and designed for wildlife enthusiasts.

It has become a tradition for Ossendryver to post an end-of-year compilation of the best sightings of the year. “This year we’ve had so many viral sightings that it may have just been the hardest yet,” he stated on his YouTube post.

Among the favorites is the view from inside a safari truck being lifted off the ground by an angry, attacking elephant.

“2024 was a WILD year for wildlife sightings!” Ossendryver stated.

A herd of zebras crossing a road, lions taking down a giraffe, a crocodile-vs.-snake encounter, an elephant tipping over a large tree and an amazing water buffalo escape are among the other favorites in the compilation.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Angry hippo tries to take a bite out of a safari vehicle (video)

An elephant trying to save a stuck rhino from hungry lions was among the top views at 18 million. The total number of views for the year for Latest Sightings topped an amazing 4 billion.

Photos courtesy of Latest Sightings.

More Outdoors!

Researchers encounter dozens of rare, shark-eating orcas; video

Watch: Tiger shark hunts inches from beach in 'on-your-toes' moment

Can you spot the rattlesnake located by dog in Arizona yard?

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Watch: Best wildlife sightings of 2024 in what was a ‘wild year’

The Conversation
In 2025, let’s make it game on – not game over – for our precious natural world
Amidst habitat destruction and ecological grief, let’s make a New Year’s resolution for nature — to care for beetles and butterflies, rainforests and reefs, ourselves, and future generations.
CNN
Prosecutor’s review finds new suspects in 1996 double killing and no ties to man tried 5 times
For 16 years, a suburban New York prosecutor’s office insisted it had the right man in a notorious 1996 double killing. The office tried him five times, through a series of hung juries and reversed convictions, before he was ultimately acquitted and freed in 2017.
FTW Outdoors
Intrepid baby bear takes on rushing creek in adorable footage
Your National Parks on Tuesday shared footage showing a newborn black bear attempting to cross a creek, perhaps for the first time. The footage, posted below, is titled, “Baby bear vs. creek.” It shows the tiny cub pausing before
BBC
Men arrested after body of wild boar found
Officers arrest two men on suspicion of wildlife offences after spotting a Jeep on a forest track.
FTW Outdoors
Angler hooks 'taxman' but then a much larger shark comes calling
A fishing-themed Instagram page on Sunday posted a “viral alert” image showing an angler posing with the head of a large shark and asked followers: “What did this?” A little research reveals that the image was captured off Moz
BBC
'Green' ferry emits more CO2 than old diesel ship
One transport expert tells the BBC it might be better to run the new CalMac ferry on diesel.
Yahoo News Australia
Incredibly 'spectacular' sight witnessed off Aussie coast hides a sad reality: 'Bad news'
The 'beautiful' natural phenomenon has wowed Aussies – but it's 'bad news' for some.
NewsWire
Thousands brace for heavy rain, storms
Thousands of Australians are bracing for wild storms and heavy rainfall, with a major warning already issued for one state.
The Independent
‘It bit me and didn’t let go’: Snorkeller relives battle with tiger shark that killed diplomat friend in Egypt
‘The shark bit me and didn’t let go. I fought until I was exhausted’ survivor of Marsa Alam shark attack says
Yahoo News Australia
Discovery on Aussie beach prompts warning over dangerous $2,200 act: 'Please don't'
A dangerous trend along the coast this holiday period has prompted a warning to Australians enjoying the holidays.
RFI
Brigitte Bardot slams 'massacre' of Chamois as Doubs approves culling of 594 animals
French screen icon Brigitte Bardot, aged 90, denounced on Tuesday what she called a "massacre" of chamois—a species of goat-antelope native to the mountainous regions of Europe—in the Doubs department, where the local police chief has authorised the culling of 594 animals for the purpose of "vegetation protection". On Tuesday, Brigitte Bardot, founder of an animal protection foundation that bears her name, condemned the "carnage" criticised by French animal rights groups."I am horrified to learn
BBC
Hundreds of 'lost ponds' restored on Essex farms
Project managers hope to breathe new life into thousands more former ponds over the next few years.
NewsWire
Thousands fume over new tap water taste
Residents have vented frustration at bizarre changes to their tap water as authorities grapple with recent wild weather.
CNN
Scientists have identified an estimated 10% of all species on Earth. Here’s what they found in 2024
Researchers identified hundreds of new species in 2024, expanding our surprisingly limited knowledge of Earth’s biodiversity.
Storyful
Smuggled Baby Gorilla Rescued at Istanbul Airport
A baby western lowland gorilla being illegally shipped in a crate was intercepted at Turkey’s Istanbul Airport during a routine customs inspection, the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said on December 22.Customs enforcement teams from the Ministry of Trade discovered the endangered baby gorilla inside a cage-type cargo shipment that was departing from Nigeria and destined for Bangkok.The gorilla was put under the care of forestry officials and will remain under observation to ensure it is in good health, according to local reports.The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry posted a short video of the five-month-old infant in a spacious enclosure with clean straw on December 28 with the caption, “Don’t worry, friends, I’m fine.” Credit: Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry via Storyful
BBC
New Year's Eve weather warning for NI
The Met Office cancels its warning for snow but strong winds are expected on New Year’s Eve.
The Independent
Northern lights could be visible soon as Earth hit by massive eruption from the Sun
The Earth has been hit by a massive eruption from the Sun – which could cause problems for infrastructure but also lead to stunning northern lights on New Year’s Eve. A large blast of energy from the solar surface, known as a coronal mass ejection or CME, left the Sun on Sunday. It arrived on Tuesday, potentially in time to lead to the northern lights being visible at relatively southerly latitudes.
The Independent
Dazzling New Year’s Eve fireworks come with a terrible environmental price
Blasting the way into 2025 could have dangerous consequences for human and animal health alike
The Independent
UK weather live: Three day snow warning for most of England as floods lead to major incident in Manchester
A cold snap will grip the UK with snow possible across large areas over the weekend
CNN
‘We’re dying from the cold’: Displaced Palestinians battle winter in Gaza
Standing barefooted in the mud with an empty bucket in hand at a crowded water station in central Gaza, Palestinian Alaa Al-Shawish is both fearing the rain and looking for clean water for her family that has been displaced from Gaza City and are now living in a makeshift tent in Deir Al-Balah.

More Outdoors!

Latest stories