Today is the last day to enter for a chance to win signed copies of our upcoming books. Just click through to our fan page and hit the "Like" button. If you already "like" us, just visit the fan page. Then leave us a wall post that mentions the books and your thoughts about ZooBorns for a chance to win FREE signed copies of our two new books (all ages and young kids) before they go on sale! If you just want to preorder the books and skip the contest, they are available here (all ages) and here (young kids). This contest applies to the U.S. and Canada versions of the books only.

 Official contest rules (legalese)

The Santa Barbara Zoo's otter pups we featured in September are nearly ready to meet the public - a November debut will soon be announced. With their tiny claws emerging and fully-opened eyes, they now to look like miniature versions of their parents. At this stage, they stay close to their parents and spend a lot of time huddling together in the den. However, they also periodically emerge to take swimming lessons in shallow water with their parents. In the wild, this species is threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and pollution.

Two different giraffe babies have been born at two different zoos in recent weeks. We've brought them together for a not-so-little rubbernecking opportunity!

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

A 1-month-old giraffe calf named Machaleo made his debut alongside his mother, Shani, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Wednesday October 13th. The male calf is the 115th Uganda giraffe born at the Safari Park. In addition to the giraffe the Park is also home to a 3-month-old black rhinoceros and several antelope and gazelle that are being hand raised.

Photo Credits: San Diego Zoo Safari Park

St. Louis Zoo

The Saint Louis Zoo's newest addition, is just about a month old in these photos, and seems to love sunbathing. Born on September 10, 2010, he weighs about 136 pounds and stands over 6 feet tall. This is the seventh calf for Susie and Dexter, who has sired 13 calves altogether. Mother giraffes are very affectionate and protective toward their babies, touching and licking them frequently. Susie's gestation period was about 15 months.

Photo Credits: Ann Aurbach

The following is a short video of Desi...

Zoo photographer extraordinaire, In Cherl Kim, of Korea's Everland Zoo has once again delivered some outstanding marmoset photos. This baby marmoset monkey was photographed August 31st during a check-up. While their tiny size and inquisitive eyes make marmosets adorable, they also make them a frequent target for the illegal pet trade. Native to South and Central America, many species of marmoset are endangered thanks in part to this kind of poaching. So as cute as they are, remember they are meant to be admired from a distance!

Photo credits: In Cherl Kim / Everland Zoo

ZooBorns is approaching a milestone and we'd like to celebrate with you. We are nearing 10,000 Facebook fans! Click through to our fan page and hit the "Like" button. If you already "like" us, just visit the fan page. Then leave us a wall post that mentions the books and your thoughts about ZooBorns for a chance to win FREE signed copies of our two new books (all ages and young kids) before they go on sale! If you just want to preorder the books and skip the contest, they are available here (all ages) and here (young kids). This contest applies to the U.S. and Canada versions of the books only.

 Official contest rules (legalese)

This past Sunday, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park welcomed 10 snappy little Saltwater Crocodiles. Interesting coincidence that 10 little crocs hatched on 10-10-10! Many people don't know that baby crocodiles cry to get their mother's attention while inside the shell. When she hears the high pitched noises, which sound similar to a dog's squeaky toy, she will dutifully pick the noisy egg up and gently crack it inside her powerful jaws.

Photo credits: John Brueggen, Director of St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

One more gooey egg pic below the fold. It's extra gooey. You've been warned.

Katina, a 34-year-old killer whale, gave birth Saturday, October 9, at 7:28 p.m. in SeaWorld Orlando’s multimillion-gallon Shamu Stadium following a 45-minute labor. Moments later, the baby whale instinctively swam to the surface for its first breath. This is the seventh calf born to Katina, an 18-foot-long, 5,400-pound killer whale. “It’s a terrific day for all of us at SeaWorld,” said Kelly Flaherty-Clark, curator of animal training.  “Katina is an experienced mom and she appears to be bonding quickly with her baby.”

Photos taken by Chris Gotshall for SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld veterinarians and trainers remain cautiously optimistic about the progress of the baby and her mother and are encouraged by the bonding they’ve already seen. This calf is the 27th killer whale born at the SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Fla., San Diego, Calif. and San Antonio, Texas.  Sixteen whales have been born at SeaWorld Orlando. SeaWorld's killer whale breeding program is the most successful in the world.

In celebration of the upcoming ZooBorns Book releases, we're offering free downloadable computer desktops! The four creatures featured are shown below, and you can download them by clicking on their respective images (right click and save as). Please email (submissions at zooborns dot com), Tweet (@zooborns), or Facebook (facebook.com/ZooBorns) us photos of your new desktops once their up. We'd love to hear from you!

Owston's Palm Civet from The Newquay Zoo

"Sawyer and "Hoover" the Tawny Frogmouth Chicks from SeaWorld Orlando

"Kit" the Sea Otter from Monterey Bay Aquarium

Asian Small-clawed Otters from SeaWorld Orlando

First time mother Cougar, Chinook, gave birth to a healthy female cub Sunday, Sept. 19 at the Oregon Zoo. According to keepers, Chinook is taking good care of her cub, which weighed around 2 pounds at birth. "The cub is an adorable, roly-poly little cat covered in dark spots," said Michelle Schireman, Oregon Zoo cougar keeper. "Like all baby cougars, her coat will lose its spots as she grows — it should be fun to watch her coloring change to an adult pattern."

Photo by Michael Durham, © Oregon Zoo.

Read more below the fold.

As we have pointed out in the past, Sea Lion pups do not know how to swim at birth and must be taught by mom. Oftentimes the pups are cautious about approaching the water but not this little guy. Not even two weeks old, the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium's newest baby Sea Lion dives right in and bops around, albeit a bit awkwardly. This is the first pup for mother Maggie and only the second at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, so staff are keeping a watchful eye on the talkative and active pup.

Read more below the fold.