Born on the 4th of July at the Central Florida Zoo, this tiny South African crested porcupine was aptly named "Patriot." Weighing 1lb at birth, South African crested porcupines are born with fully formed quills, which are initially soft as hair but harden within 24 hours. Baby porcupines are also called "porcupettes!"

Porcupine affection is a delicate affair.

Patriot the porcupine meets the family

The Toronto Zoo has chosen the name "Kali" for its adorable female zebra foal. The name means "lively and energetic". You can see why, too, as she trots about her enclosure with loving mom Shani standing close by.

The foal, seen here at just over 2 months old, was named Kali as the result of a naming contest in which 24,000 people participated.

The Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida invites the public to see its beautiful new white tiger cubs. The cubs are only seven weeks old, so get over to Tampa for a first hand look at these Tiger Tots!

Photographs by Robert La Follette

We are taking you back to earlier this Spring to visit this charming Wallaby from Longleat Safari Park in Wilthshire, England. This little one, called a joey, seems to have a good plan for staying warm in any season. If winter's settling in where you are, take his lead and bundle up!

Longleat has had a great record with births over the last few years with baby giraffe, camel and lion cubs to name but a few.

Earlier this year, the Cincinnati Zoo welcomed a bearcat, or Binturong, back to its collection for the first time in four years. And rightly so, the University of Cincinnati's mascot is none other than this unusual furry friend.

The baby bearcat is pictured here at 3 months old.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is excited to announce the birth of three cheetah cubs, born and bred locally at the Cincinnati Zoo’s regional cheetah breeding facility (Mast Farm), in Clermont County, Ohio.

These adorable African spotted-neck otter pups debuted at the Monterey Bay Aquarium early last year. While it might be old news, we couldn't help but sharing these ridiculous little guys. 

 

Moja the elephant set a new world record for the longest African elephant pregnancy. After 688 days (!!!), Moja gave birth to her first calf in nine years at the Pittsburgh Zoo this summer. Luckily for the youngster, another baby elephant was born just a few weeks earlier and, as you can see in the more recent pictures, they make perfect playmates.

The calf prepares to take her first steps

Playpals. Check out their muddy trunks!

This little girl was born Sunday, November 2nd at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. A threatened species, conservationists hope to increase the population of Dama gazelles born in capitivity to aid in repopulation and research efforts. 

A baby penguin which had to be separated from its family after a greedy sibling continually ate all its food has found companionship - with this stuffed toy.

Mates: Pingu the penguin chick at the Living Coasts zoo in Torquay who has found solace with a stuffed toy

The penguin - called Pingu - began to lose weight and appeared weak after its bigger relative regularly helped himself to all the fish on offer.

Concerned keepers were forced to remove Pingu from the enclosure, but at just three-weeks-old the penguin was in desperate need of company.

Staff bought a £3.99 toy penguin from the zoo shop which acts as a surrogate sibling to the chuffed chick - who cuddles up to its new friend all day.

Comforting: Staff at the zoo decided to hand rear the baby African penguin after noticing its older sibling kept eating all it's food

There is hope for Pingu!