World's Cutest Animals
So when we asked our community members for their favorite nature shots, we weren’t surprised to get lots of animal images that came with a high awww factor. After all, once you’ve taken pictures of cute animals, it’s only natural to want to share them.
And until November 29, you can vote for your favorite animals—along with the other finalists in the nature category—in our photo contest.
Of course, it’s not easy to capture images of animals, whether or not they’re cute. Sure, some may seem like they’re preening for the camera, but if they spot dinner—or if dinner spots them—the moment can be quickly lost. And you can’t exactly come back when the light is optimal. But when everything comes together—cute animal, great scenery, perfect light—you could have an award-winning photograph.
Monkeys often make for especially great cute-animal photos—chalk it up to their similarity to us mixed with their cuddly looks (just don’t try to pet one!). One example in our collection is a photo of two monkeys: one has an expression of flabbergasted shock; the other huddles close, baring its teeth. Are they playing? Fending off a threat? Either way, their stacked heads create a very cute image.
But cuteness is by no means limited to monkeys or cats—cute animals can take just about any form. One reader sent in a photo of a group of playful otters swimming together, two of them with their mouths wide open in what can only be described as gleeful grins. You can almost hear them promising perfect water temperature and urging you to jump in.
So read on to see the cutest of the cute animal photos (and there were a lot!). Click through the slideshow, then vote in our photo contest, either for one of the cute animal finalists or for one of the arresting nature scenes.
“Peek-a-boo!”
Location: Ariau Lodge, Brazil
1 of 29
“No I am not trying to reenact Surprise Squirrel. I’m a chipmunk. And I’m just having a snack. Okay?!”
Location: Grand Junction, CO
2 of 29
“Do I have anything in my teeth?”
Location: Broome, Western Australia
3 of 29
“Does this pouch make me look fat?”
Location: Healesville, Australia
4 of 29
How unsuspecting, slithering through a vibrant bed of flowers!
5 of 29
“My bite is worse than my growl! (It’s really not. *sigh*)”
Location: Limpopo, South Africa
6 of 29
“Go ahead. Make fun of my friend again. I dare you!”
Location: Costa Rica
7 of 29
“Aww, shucks. You’re makin’ me blush!”
Location: Eldorado, NM
8 of 29
Smile! Time for a picture of mom and her new baby.
Location: Healesville, Australia
9 of 29
“I give up! I’m always the seeker! I want to hide!”
Location: Bronx Zoo, New York, NY
10 of 29
Oh, you know…just hangin’ around.
Location: Uganda
11 of 29
“Eh? Wha’s that? Someone call my name?”
Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
12 of 29
“Go on. You can do it. I’ll be right here watching.”
Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana
13 of 29
What isn’t to love about baby goats playing in the snow?
14 of 29
“Look ma! I’m sitting on your head!”
Location: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
15 of 29
“The better to see you with…”
Location: Pin-Supu Forest Reserve, Borneo, Malaysia
16 of 29
Tired after a long day of rock-lounging.
Location: Monterey, CA
17 of 29
Big brother helping out little brother.
18 of 29
“Have a good day at work, honey!”
Location: Interlaken, Switzerland
19 of 29
“Moommmm! There are people watching!”
Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana
20 of 29
“Come on in! The water’s great!!”
Location: Sitka, AK
21 of 29
“I appreciate you want to protect me, but for real…I can’t breathe!”
Location: Tanzania
23 of 29
It was love at first peck.
Location: Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry, Ireland
24 of 29
“No, we will not smile for your picture.”
Location: Tanzania
25 of 29
Learning to walk warrants many rests.
Location: Aran Islands, Ireland
26 of 29
Underwater acrobatics at its finest.
27 of 29
“Told you I didn’t need floaties to swim!”
Location: Columbus, OH
28 of 29
“I’m just going to keep gnawing on your back until you pay attention to me.”
Location: Gibralter