This bobcat is regularly spotted by Kiawah Island residents and guests. The GPS collar helps biologists track his movements.
Photo: Photo: Kiawah Island Golf Resort

by Brook Wilkinson

Turns out you don't need to book a flight to Africa to partake in a wildlife safari. Heck, you don't even need to get up from the computer. Just click over to nature blog, run by the resident biologists at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina (a state that could use a little good news these days). It's a surprisingly fascinating, and regularly updated, chronicle of the varying wildlife found on and around the island, from butterflies to egrets, and sea turtles to sharks. I've always thought of Kiawah as a leisure-sports destination--it's famous for its golf and tennis facilities--but this blog has opened my eyes to the island's natural splendors. After catching up with the posts, I'm rooting for Mingo, the green sea turtle who was rescued near the resort and is now being cared for at the South Carolina Turtle Hospital, as well as the one-hour-old fawn who was photographed on the island back in May. If you're lucky enough to make it to Kiawah this summer, you can see these and many more species in action on the resort's nature walks, photography tours, and dolphin encounters. Or just log on for the daily update.

Further reading:
* Responsible Traveler: Making a difference
* Connecting for Good: Join Condé Nast Traveler and Ashoka in this international competition for the best ideas on how to encourage citizens everywhere to travel more