The Cutest Baby Animals on Earth: Adorable Creatures You Can't Help But Love

1. Red Panda Cubs

Red pandas are already cute enough, but when you add in their impossibly fluffy cubs, it's almost too much to handle. These arboreal animals, native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, have a distinctive red coat and bushy tail. Baby red pandas weigh less than 100 grams at birth and are completely dependent on their mothers for the first few months of their lives.

2. Baby Sea Otters

There's nothing quite as heartwarming as a baby sea otter floating on its back alongside its mother. These furry creatures, found along the coastlines of the northern Pacific Ocean, have some of the thickest fur of any mammal to keep them warm in chilly waters. Baby otters stay with their mothers for up to six months before striking out on their own.

3. Penguin Chicks

Penguins might not be the first animal that comes to mind when you think of something cute, but their tiny chicks are just as adorable as any other baby animal. Emperor penguin chicks, for example, are covered in a soft gray down and huddle together in large groups to keep warm. These Antarctic birds are devoted parents, taking turns incubating the egg and caring for the chick.

4. Baby Elephants

It's hard not to be moved by the sight of a baby elephant clumsily following its mother through the savannah. These gentle giants, found in Africa and Asia, have an incredibly long gestation period of up to 22 months. Once born, baby elephants can weigh up to 120 kilograms and will nurse from their mothers for the first few years of their lives.

5. Fawn Deer

There's something magical about stumbling upon a fawn deer hiding in the woods. These delicate creatures, found throughout much of the world, have a distinctive spotted coat that helps them blend in with their surroundings. Baby deer are born without scent, which helps protect them from predators until they are strong enough to evade them.