21 photos of the cutest wild animals in the world

Take a break from the puppy pictures and kitten videos for today’s daily dose of cuteness. Though there is certainly no shortage of baby animal pictures and adorable animal photos out there for you to peruse, how about some of the cutest animals in the world? Some of these animals you may have seen before, but whether you’re familiar with them or not, we can guarantee you’ll be falling in love with all these little cuties.

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I’m sure you can see how this is one of the cutest animals in the world. You wouldn’t think a tubby little fluff ball like this could go very far in the air, but flaps of skin by their legs help them glide between trees. You can catch a glimpse of Siberian flying squirrels in Russia, China, and other northern areas of Asia and Europe. Tourists get especially excited to see them in Hokkaido, the only island in Japan with the furballs.

American pikas are related to rabbits and hares. They might be small, adorable animals, but they’re still tough – the little critters can survive harsh weather without burying holes.

Have a look at these animals that are probably smarter than you.

These adorable animals – also known as tanuki – are more closely related to dogs than raccoons. They’re monogamous, and the papa and mama Japanese raccoon dogs work together to raise their pups.

Who can say squirrels are pests when this adorable species exists? Found in hot desert climates in the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico, Harris’s antelope squirrels use their tails as umbrellas to block out the sweltering sun.

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Nope, bongos aren’t just drums – the African animals are also the biggest species of forest antelope in the world. As adults, their horns can grow as long as one metre.

As marsupials, these Australian mammals spend their first nine weeks of life in their mama’s pouch. Despite their sweet appearance, quolls are unapologetic predators. Larger species eat birds, possums, and rabbits, while smaller ones stick with insects, birds’ eggs, and little animals.

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You may have heard of these little guys in the context of selfies. Known as the ‘happiest animal in the world’ because of their friendly appearance, quokka selfies became somewhat of a trend in Australia just a few years ago.

Although small and adorable, arctic foxes can endure the most freezing temperatures – as low as -50 degrees Celsius!

Check out these interesting facts about your favourite animals.

This small antelope is known for its monogamy. Klipspringers display long-term – even lifelong – pair bonding.