Chicago's excellent and well-curated zoos have been home to some of the most adorable animals and newborns in the country. And especially over the past year or so, it's been extremely hard to not take notice. In fact, it would be almost criminal to not showcase some of the best, brightest and most revered animals.
You may have to pay to see some of these darling creatures, but nearly two-thirds can be visited for free at the fantastic Lincoln Park Zoo. And for those critters that do require a few bucks to stop by and say hello, your hard-earned cash will go to a good cause, namely their food and lifelong care.
To celebrate the recent influx of delightful little guys and gals, we searched far and wide for the cutest of the cute.
18. Cleo the sand cat at Lincoln Park Zoo
17. The beluga whales at Shedd Aquarium.
16. Harbor seals at Lincoln Park Zoo
15. The baby gray seal at Brookfield Zoo.
14. Baby sloth at Lincoln Park Zoo
13. Minnie the fennec fox at Lincoln Park Zoo
12. The stingrays at Shedd Aquarium (you can pet them).
11. Zachary, the western lowland gorilla at Brookfield Zoo.
10. Ron Bison and his baby boy at Brookfield Zoo.
9. Luna the sea otter at Shedd Aquarium.
8. Mangalitsa piglets at Lincoln Park Zoo.
7. Chilean flamingo chick at Lincoln Park Zoo.
6. This pair of snow leopard cubs at Brookfield Zoo.
5. Baby orangutan at Brookfield Zoo.
4. Rockhopper penguin chick #23 at Shedd Aquarium.
3. Addison, the red panda cub at Lincoln Park Zoo.
2. Baby ornate turtles at Brookfield and Lincoln Park zoos.
1. Will, the okapi calf at Brookfield Zoo.
