The cuteness is in overload when it comes to babies at the zoo. We usually get to see the animals after they have grown and are roaming in their exhibits. Zoo keepers keep a close eye on them when they are young. Here are a few little ones being cared for at the zoo.
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Gibbon
This baby Gibbon was born in the Perth Zoo. Gibbons are Apes that live in small families in the wild. They are a smaller ape when compared to chimpanzees and gorillas.
Asian Elephant
This baby Asian Elephant calls the Melbourne Zoo home. They have been considered endangered since 1986 and have a lifespan of about 60 years in captivity.
Siberian Tiger
This little Siberian Tiger is having one heck of a Monday! He calls the Columbus Zoo home. Ranked as one of the biggest living cats, they are in danger of becoming extinct. It is estimated that only 562 are living in the wild in Russia.
Orangutan
Meet baby Khaleesi, named after the zoo keepers favorite Game of Thrones character. Khalessi calls the El Paso Zoo home. Out of the four species of Orangutans, there is only one that is not extinct.
Malayan Tapir
The Malaysian Tapir is the largest of the five species and the only one native to Asia. Because of their small eyes, they do see very well but have a great sense of smell.
Giraffe
As if we haven’t had enough baby giraffe news, this guy was born in the Denver Zoo. Seven species of giraffes are extinct and they are mainly found in the wild in Chad, South Africa, Niger and Somalia.
Panda Bear
Meet baby Panda Bear Bao Bao, who was born at the Smithsonian National Zoo. She was later transferred to a zoo in China under the cooperative breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA). Reports are that there are only between 2,000 to 3,000 living in the wild.
Lions
This pair of lion cubs were born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. After birth, their mother was giving them any attention so the zoo staff began to bottle feed them. They sleep about 20 hours per day.
Grevy’s Zebra
This is Bosley who lives at the Denver Zoo. His parents were matched by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) which ensures the newborn will have good genetics. Zebras can mate year round and gestation lasts about 390 days.
Polar Bear
This baby Polar Bear is named Shilka and resides at the Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia. The Polar Bear is home to the Arctic Circle and is a sister species to the Brown Bear. Though born on land, they spend most of their time on sea ice.
Chilean Puda
Hamil Girl is a Puda Fawn who lives at the Detroit Zoo. When she was born, she was only 2 lbs and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. At full grown, she will be around 18″ at the shoulder and will weigh around 25 lbs. They are the smallest species of deer.
Grey Seal
This little guy was born at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo and the first of its kind born at the zoo. Today the zoo boasts the largest zoo population of grey seals in North America.
White Rhinoceros
This big guy lives at the Taman Safari in Indonesia. Although the animal is not white, it is believed the name “white” was mistranslated between the Dutch word “wijd” which means wide by English speaking settlers in South Africa. Wide would refer to the animals large mouth used for grazing.
Black Lemur
This cute little Black Lemur cub is named Dimbi and resides at the Mulhouse zoo in France. The Lemur is from Madagascar and is the only primate to have blue eyes other than humans.
MeerKat
This Meerkat family lives in a zoo in Dresden, eastern Germany. A group of Meerkats is called a mob, clan or gang. An average mob can contain around 20 but a super clan can house as many as 50. In captivity, they can live to be around 14 years old. Their life span in the wild is about half that.
Platypuses
The Platypus is one of two mammals that don’t give life birth to their young, they lay eggs. When the mom is ready to lay her eggs, she burrows a tunnel to protect the eggs. A baby platypus grows a temporary egg tooth to help it break the egg when it is hatched.
White Tiger
These White Tiger cubs are hanging out with their mother at a zoo in France. The White Tiger is a Bengal tiger, but is white due to a lack of pigment. They are considered fully grown around 2-3 years of age.
Addax
The Addax is a antelope from the Sahara Desert. While a normal heard is about twenty, some can exists with only two. They usually eat grass but will find a leaf appealing now and then.
Matschies Tree Kangaroo
This little tree kangaroo named Yawan takes a peak from his mother’s pouch. The tree kangaroo is an endangered species and is native to Papua New Guinea. They are smaller than the better known Red Kangaroo from Australia. They have curved paws which help them climb tree branches.
Snow Leopard
While it was the Chicago Cubs making news for the World Series win, zoo goers at the Chicago zoo were looking for this cute cub. The snow leopard has thick fur and small cropped ears to help it live in colder climates.
Follow Brent McAllister on Twitter @brentonmutually