The nation’s many zoos took to Twitter on Tuesday to give America exactly what it needs: photos of really cute baby animals.
According to Mashable, the whole thing started when the Smithsonian National Zoo tweeted a photo of the gray seal pup that was born over the weekend. Twitter user Sarah Hill then asked the Virginia Aquarium to counter, and started one of the happiest hashtags of 2017.
We welcomed a gray seal pup Jan. 21. The pup appears to be nursing, moving & bonding well w/ mom. https://t.co/l0Bzu7g8ek #Squee pic.twitter.com/nEhuJe6vBk
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 25, 2017
@SarahJanetHill #challengeaccepted We see @NationalZoo 's seal pup, and raise an otter/osprey combo. pic.twitter.com/D9zDWXxuDb
— Virginia Aquarium (@VAAquarium) January 25, 2017
From there, other zoos and aquariums across the country joined in, which really raised the stakes.
It's not a competition, but ... #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/bhZkbvetT4
— Reid Park Zoo (@ReidParkZoo) January 25, 2017
.@VAAquarium This is Redd, our endangered Bornean orangutan infant. And he is the cutest. Do you fold yet? #challengeaccepted pic.twitter.com/ED6WiZun1R
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 25, 2017
.@BronxZoo @sfzoo @ZooATL @phillyzoo @VAAquarium @zoomiami @VLMuseum #cuteanimaltweetoff Throwing our spotted sisters into the mix. 😻😻 pic.twitter.com/WGfKBWDmR5
— San Diego Zoo Safari (@sdzsafaripark) January 25, 2017
Our river #otters don't want to be left out of the #CuteAnimalTweetOff! pic.twitter.com/9WfXmsEtCt
— Seattle Aquarium (@SeattleAquarium) January 25, 2017
@NationalZoo Don't worry, we're still here. pic.twitter.com/0Qm9dcvMD9
— Virginia Aquarium (@VAAquarium) January 25, 2017
How cute is this little balloonfish? Find him in our Tropical Gallery smiling away! 🎈😃🎈 #AquariumOfThePacific #CuteAnimalTweetOff pic.twitter.com/qM9al7w3ur
— Aquarium of Pacific (@AquariumPacific) January 25, 2017
@SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @ZooATL @sfzoo @phillyzoo @PhoenixZoo @zoomiami #cuteanimaltweetoff? Bam: an oldie but a goodie. pic.twitter.com/6kjrTXG9dl
— Bronx Zoo (@BronxZoo) January 25, 2017
We'll just leave this little bit #squee right here. #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/NxdiduKq5z
— Reid Park Zoo (@ReidParkZoo) January 25, 2017
@SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @BronxZoo @sandiegozoo @sfzoo @phillyzoo @PhoenixZoo @zoomiami We're always down for a #cuteanimaltweetoff! pic.twitter.com/hmkYOLBjrx
— Zoo Atlanta (@ZooATL) January 25, 2017
@VAAquarium @BronxZoo @SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @sfzoo @phillyzoo @PhoenixZoo @zoomiami So little! (Photo by Lynn Yakubinis) pic.twitter.com/DqwRG1EYrx
— Zoo Atlanta (@ZooATL) January 25, 2017
@GeorgiaAquarium @NatlAquarium @TNAquarium @SarahJanetHill @MontereyAq hey guys, room for sea otters in the #cuteanimaltweetoff? pic.twitter.com/kvjGO6352q
— New York Aquarium (@nyaquarium) January 25, 2017
@ZooATL @VAAquarium @BronxZoo @SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @sfzoo @PhoenixZoo @zoomiami *mic drop* #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/go8i7gWAAF
— Philadelphia Zoo (@phillyzoo) January 25, 2017
.@ZooATL @phillyzoo @VAAquarium @BronxZoo @SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @sfzoo @zoomiami Not sure who Mic is, but here's Jiwa. pic.twitter.com/xiddEpjZjH
— Phoenix Zoo (@PhoenixZoo) January 25, 2017
This #cuteanimaltweetoff is #koality stuff. @BronxZoo @sfzoo @ZooATL @phillyzoo @VAAquarium @SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @PhoenixZoo pic.twitter.com/JCo55WQZmF
— Zoo Miami (@zoomiami) January 25, 2017
@PhoenixZoo @ZooATL @phillyzoo @VAAquarium @BronxZoo @SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @zoomiami Mom cuddles are just the best❤ pic.twitter.com/UCqZmMrm1y
— San Francisco Zoo (@sfzoo) January 25, 2017
Can't believe we almost missed the #CuteAnimalTweetOff! Thanks for letting us know @CabernetLvr! pic.twitter.com/9gTgyc5i9A
— Seattle Aquarium (@SeattleAquarium) January 25, 2017
Ok no one gets to drop the mic before they see the most adorable baby rhino...ever. ❤🎤🔽 #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/tHscpDwy9Y
— Fresno Chaffee Zoo (@FresnoZoo) January 26, 2017
.@sfzoo @PhoenixZoo @ZooATL @phillyzoo @VAAquarium @SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @zoomiami Agreed. #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/g2ep5WO1gD
— Bronx Zoo (@BronxZoo) January 25, 2017
.@BronxZoo @sfzoo @ZooATL @phillyzoo @VAAquarium @SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @zoomiami Had to grab a snack. #CuteAnimalTweetOff. pic.twitter.com/SGbpLbQtqg
— Phoenix Zoo (@PhoenixZoo) January 25, 2017
.@BronxZoo @sfzoo @ZooATL @phillyzoo @VAAquarium @SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @zoomiami Wouldn't be complete without Tuvok! pic.twitter.com/G3KBN3F6sz
— Phoenix Zoo (@PhoenixZoo) January 25, 2017
DID SOMEBODY SAY #CUTEANIMALTWEETOFF pic.twitter.com/9jiijLsR9A
— Los Angeles Zoo (@LAZoo) January 25, 2017
We're just gonna make your dreams a little bit sweeter tonight. 💤🐘#cuteanimaltweetoff @NationalZoo @VAAquarium @mashable pic.twitter.com/F35lncuTYM
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) January 26, 2017
Of course, this little hatchling named Butter Pecan is pretty hard to compete with! #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/KeU6qL91rb
— Clearwater Aquarium (@CMAquarium) January 26, 2017
The #CuteAnimalTweetOff is just what the doctor ordered for #HumpDay! Thanks for all the cuteness fellow Zoo friends! pic.twitter.com/q83fr9aZ9J
— San Francisco Zoo (@sfzoo) January 26, 2017
We might be late to #CuteAnimalTweetOff, but Alexander Camelton is not throwing away his shot. #Hamilton pic.twitter.com/K00fUqCBxQ
— Lincoln Park Zoo (@lincolnparkzoo) January 26, 2017
"Excuse me, can I get in on this, too?" #CuteAnimalTweetOff pic.twitter.com/MATHGrJgvI
— Elmwood Park Zoo (@ElmwoodParkZoo) January 25, 2017
Leapin' Lemurs the #cuteanimaltweetoff is going strong. Behold our baby sifaka lemur. He's kind of cute, right? 💛 pic.twitter.com/9dNfyeJJ2d
— Maryland Zoo (@marylandzoo) January 25, 2017
For the reptile lovers: A tiny mossy leaf-tailed gecko. 💚 #CuteAnimalTweetOff pic.twitter.com/ZX5DN1iNG8
— San Diego Zoo (@sandiegozoo) January 25, 2017
We see your #CuteAnimalTweetOff and raise you a #LionCub! pic.twitter.com/lJizi4TNwA
— Fresno Chaffee Zoo (@FresnoZoo) January 26, 2017
The effort even went global!
Which way to the #cuteanimaltweetoff? #Madagascar #Lemur #Momandbaby #savethelemurs pic.twitter.com/rcQewB2zrF
— USAID Madagascar (@USAIDMadagascar) January 26, 2017
Can we do this every Tuesday?
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