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.
Here at BBC Wildlife Magazine, 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...
10 positive wildlife stories from 2024
Cheetah cubs born in Saudi Arabia
Four small furry bundles 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 big cats, 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.
Astonishing ‘explosion of life’ coral spawning in Cambodia
A mass coral reef spawning 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.
There's a rare ocean bird that actually chases tropical cyclones
A groundbreaking study revealed that Desertas petrels, a rare but wide-ranging seabird in the North Atlantic, actively seek out tropical cyclones 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 marine life.
Hippos can fly (sort of)
The common hippopotamus, or hippo, is one of the world's largest living land mammals. Yet despite their size, these hefty giants spend around 15% of time 'suspended' in the air when running, say scientists after an in-depth study earlier this year.
'Electric butterflies' can pull pollen through the air like superheroes
A new study has revealed that the electrostatic field created by butterflies and moths in flight allows them to attract pollen grains from flowers across air gaps up to several centimetres wide, like telekinetic superheroes.
Elephants have names for each other, just like humans
Dolphins and parrots are 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 in much the same we do, meaning they may also be capable of abstract thought.
Indian tree frog has upside-down sex
Of all 7,708 species of frogs known to science, the Charles Darwin’s frog – endemic to the Andaman Archipelago in the Indian Ocean – is the only one known to breed upside-down, discovered a team of scientists from India and the USA.
Deep-sea 'galaxy' discovered off the coast of Chile
The deepest photosynthesising coral in the world and 160 species – at least 50 of which are believed to be new to science – were observed during a deep-sea expedition at Chile’s Salas y Gómez Ridge.
Bornean clouded leopard family filmed in wild for first time ever
Extraordinary first-of-its-kind footage captured a family of endangered Bornean clouded leopards walking through a forest in Indonesian Borneo.
Critically endangered red handfish returned to the wild in Tasmania
18 critically endangered red handfish were released back into the wild after being taken into captivity to protect them from marine heatwaves.
More amazing wildlife stories from around the world
- A tree that can walk? How one 'walking tree' is said to be able to move itself to a sunnier spot
- Diver films incredible feeding frenzy from inside a sardine mega-shoal
- Giant anteater twins filmed in Argentina for first time
- World's most invincible big cat filmed swimming across huge crocodile-infested river in Uganda
