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Cutest Baby Animals of 2025

Posted on December 31, 2025 by admin

Let’s take a look back at some of the cutest baby animals born or rescued in 2025. Here are a few highlights that will make you say, “Aww!”

Brightest Eyes

Oakland Zoo rescued a baby spider monkey earlier this year. This bright-eyed baby was a victim of the illegal wildlife pet trade. She suffered from malnourishment and a respiratory infection. Oakland Zoo provided intensive veterinary care to bring her back to health.

This baby spider monkey, a victim of the illegal wildlife pet trade, was rescued by Oakland Zoo. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

Fluffiest Waddle

This ball of fluff is a baby African penguin named Waddle from Lincoln Park Zoo. Born on October 1, Waddle was named after former Chicago Bears wide receiver and current ESPN Chicago radio host Tom Waddle in a public naming contest.

Waddle the penguin chick at Lincoln Park Zoo

Waddle, the African penguin chick, hatched on October 1 at Lincoln Park Zoo. Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

Most Curious Cubs

Residents in Portola Valley, California spotted three curious cougar cubs wandering around their neighborhood earlier this year. Oakland Zoo rescued the cubs after it was determined their mother had been struck by a car.

These cougar cubs were brought to Oakland Zoo for care after their mother had been struck by a car. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

Best Buddies

The Brookfield Zoo in Chicago welcomed this playful pair of Humboldt penguin chicks at the end of January.

Photo © Brookfield Zoo Chicago.

Cutest Cuddler

The title of cutest cuddler goes to Hank the koala joey, who was given life-saving care at Taronga Wildlife Hospital in Dubbo, Australia in January. Veterinary staff provided 24-hour intensive care for weeks, and prepared him for his return to the wild.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo provided 24-7 veterinary care to Hank the koala joey in January. Photo by Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Hope you enjoyed our roundup of adorable animals from 2025! Happy New Year! Here’s to many more cute baby animals in 2026!

Rescued Baby Spider Monkey at Oakland Zoo

Posted on January 3, 2025 by admin

Rescued baby spider monkey in care of Oakland Zoo

This baby spider monkey, rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade, is now in the care of Oakland Zoo. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

On New Year’s Eve, Oakland Zoo was contacted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to assist in rescue of a female baby spider monkey.

The spider monkey was a victim of the illegal wildlife pet trade. She arrived at the zoo’s veterinary hospital malnourished, with an abnormal coat and skin, and suffering from an upper respiratory infection.

The spider monkey is currently receiving veterinary care and enrichment. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

The zoo estimates her age to be about five to six months. She is being kept off-exhibit in a humidified room to help with her respiratory infection. Veterinary staff are giving her fluids and running tests on her bones and skin.

After the spider monkey has fully recovered, Oakland Zoo will work with CDFW and the Wildlife Confiscation Network (WCN) to find her an appropriate home in an accredited zoo or sanctuary, where she can grow up as normally as possible in a troop of other spider monkeys.

Learn more about the baby spider monkey at the Oakland Zoo website.

About Monkeys as Pets

Exotic animals, like spider monkeys, do not make good pets. Even if people have the best intentions, they simply cannot provide the care necessary for a monkey. Often, pet monkeys suffer from chronic stress, malnutrition, and other health issues.

Furthermore, baby spider monkeys are often poached from the wild and don’t make it past their first birthday.

Learn more at NotAPet.net.

What’s the Difference Between a Monkey and an Ape?

Posted on December 5, 2024 by admin

Monkeys and apes share many similarities. They are both primates, which are characterized as social animals with large brains and hands that can grasp.

But what’s the difference between a monkey and an ape? How can you tell them apart?

Tails

The easiest way to tell if it’s a monkey or an ape is by the presence of a tail. Monkeys have tails. Apes do not. So if you see a tail, it’s not an ape.

Example: Look at the glorious tails on these guereza colobuses. Ape? No. Monkey? Yes!

These colobuses have long bushy white tails. Photo by pilesasmiles / iStock.com.

See the long tail on this squirrel monkey as it leaps? Ape? No. Monkey? Yes!

This squirrel monkey has a long tail. Photo by miroslav_1 / iStock.com.

Now look at the tail-less butt of this mountain gorilla. Ape? Yes.

No tail on this silverback mountain gorilla. Photo by VV-pics / iStock.com.

But wait! Some monkeys have teeny tiny stubs of tails that you can’t see.

Look at the butts of these Japanese macaques. Tail? Doesn’t look like it. But is it a monkey? Yes!

Can’t see a tail on this Japanese macaque, but it is a monkey. Photo by Denise Johnson / iStock.com.

So in certain cases where you can’t see a tail, it may be tricky to tell if it’s a monkey or an ape. But there are other distinguishing factors as well.

Size

Apes are generally larger than monkeys and have broader chests.

See the large chest of the orangutan? Ape? Yes.

Bornean orangutan. Photo by Cede Prudente / iStock.com.

Location

Apes live in Africa and Asia. Monkeys live in Africa and Asia too, but they also live in Mexico, Central America and South America. No apes live in the Americas.

Example: This spider monkey is native to Central America and South America. Monkey? Yes.

Colombian spider monkey. Photo by Willy Mobilo / iStock.com.

Intelligence

Both monkeys and apes are intelligent, but apes have a larger brain-to-body ratio and have even greater intelligence. In fact, some apes can even communicate in human sign language!

Example: Apes, like this chimpanzee, are very sophisticated tool users, which is a sign of high intelligence. But it should be noted that there are also a few monkeys who use tools as well.

This chimp is using tools to get fruit out of a box. Photo by Vincent_St_Thomas / iStock.com.

Memorize the Different Kinds of Apes

If all else fails, you could actually just memorize the different kinds of apes because there aren’t that many.

The different kinds of apes are:

Humans
Bonobos / Chimpanzees
Orangutans
Gorillas
Gibbons

So then if it’s an animal within that group, you know it’s an ape!

More Ape vs. Monkey Resources:

If you would like to learn more about apes, see our articles: Bonobo, Bornean Orangutan, Chimpanzee, and Mountain Gorilla.

To learn more about monkeys, see our articles: Guereza Colobus Monkey and Squirrel Monkey or view our archive of monkey blog posts.

Year in Review: Baby Animals of 2013

Posted on December 23, 2013 by admin

What a wonderful year it’s been for adorable baby animals! Here are a few highlights:

Most Eager Eyes: Pictured below is one of two female lion cubs who were born at Busch Gardens on March 20. The cubs have genetic lines from the Kalahari and Kruger regions of South Africa, where lions are recognized for their large size and impressive manes on the males.

Photo by Busch Gardens.

Most Spiky: The Woodland Park Zoo welcomed a North American porcupette (baby porcupine) on April 18. Porcupettes are born with soft quills that harden a few hours after birth, providing quick protection against predators.

The new porcupette at one day old at the Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk / Woodland Park Zoo.

Best Hugger: This baby bonobo was born on May 12 at the Memphis Zoo. In the wild, bonobos inhabit the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Currently, the IUCN has categorized bonobos as endangered.

Bonobo baby with mom Kiri. Photo credit: Laura Horn, Memphis Zoo.

Sleepiest Piggy-Backer: It’s a tie between this baby anteater and this baby spider monkey, both of whom were born in June at Busch Gardens!

https://animalfactguide.com/2012/07/baby-animals-at-busch-gardens/

Weighing less than 5 pounds, this baby anteater will eventually grow to be over 100 pounds. The little anteater will ride on his mother’s back for about a year. Photo provided by Busch Gardens

This baby spider monkey got comfy sleeping on his mother’s back. Photo provided by Busch Gardens

Rare Birth: King is an Eastern black rhinoceros born at the Lincoln Park Zoo on August 26. In the wild, Eastern black rhinos are critically endangered due to poaching. It is estimated that there are only 5000 left in the wild in Africa.

After a few timid steps, King gained confidence in the outdoor exhibit, taking in all the new sights and scents. Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Lincoln Park Zoo.

Cutest Snout: Meet Gabana, a baby giant anteater born at the Nashville Zoo on November 16. In the wild, giant anteaters inhabit the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are considered vulnerable of extinction by the IUCN.

Baby giant anteater at Nashville Zoo. Photo by Heather Robertson / Nashville Zoo.

Tallest Baby: In the early morning hours of December 13, a female Masai giraffe was born at Nashville Zoo! At birth, the calf was already 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 180 lbs.

Photo by Amiee Stubbs / Nashville Zoo.

Hope you enjoyed our roundup of cute animal babies of 2013. Happy New Year!

Baby Animals at Busch Gardens

Posted on July 31, 2012 by admin

Busch Gardens welcomed a trio of baby animals this summer: a giant anteater, a spider monkey, and a kangaroo!

Photo provided by Busch Gardens

Currently a month old and weighing less than 5 pounds, the baby anteater will eventually grow to be over 100 pounds. The little anteater will ride on his mother’s back for about a year.