We interrupt your regular daily life for not one but TWO adorable (and endangered) new zoo babies

Look, we’re all busy and in need of some fresh dopamine (especially on a long maintenance Tuesday). Luckily, the internet provided. Or rather, two zoos provided: content of their absolutely precious new (endangered!) babies. They’re so cute that multiple folks had to make sure I was aware of their existences — h/t to BW editor Mitch and Discord member Kehl for sharing. Let’s meet and admire the planet’s darling new residents.

Mars was born on June 26, 2025, to parents Pluto and Posie at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, KS. Like other pygmy hippo calfs, he has been enjoying the early bonding period with Posie, who with Pluto is an absolute pro: Mars is their fifth child since they came to Tanganyika in 2014. The little calf is proving to be a feisty addition, “mock-sparring with branches and sprinting laps around the barn” according to the zoo’s birth announcement. Mars has a dedicated playlist of shorts for you to enjoy, but you can catch him on the zoo’s livestream from 12:00 – 4:00pm central (they play highlight reels the rest of the time) or on their social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

This birth is particularly critical as male pygmy hippos represent a lower percentage of births than females, making Species Survival Plans (SSPs) all the more difficult to coordinate. Pygmy hippos are rare, with an estimated global population of less than 2500 adults in the wild. They are native to the forests and swamps of West Africa (primarily Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire) but habitat destruction and hunting are the drivers behind their Endangered classification on the IUCN‘s Red list.

Even more exciting on some levels is the new (yet unnamed) baby girl snow leopard born on June 10, 2025, to Nubra and Yashin at Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom. She has been enjoying her initial bonding window with her mother, as shown on den cams, and is happily growing, healthy, and playful. But there are multiple reasons to celebrate this new baby —  first, the zoo’s Himalayan habitat only opened in May 2024; Nubra and Yashin were then paired at the zoo as part of an international conservation breeding program. Also, she is not only the pair’s first cub, but the first snow leopard cub ever born at the Chester Zoo. Catch glimpses of the little ones on the zoo’s social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.

Snow leopards are similarly rare, classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN‘s Red list with an estimated global population of 2700 to 3400 adults. Their native rocky territories in Central Asia’s high-altitude areas are under threat “from shrinking habitats, climate change, illegal hunting and conflict with people.” Their populations are also difficult to estimate, as the snow leopard is incredibly adapted to hiding in its natural habitats. Luckily, programs such as the Snow Leopard Trust work with local communities to both assist with population tracking and finding ways for these beauties to co-exist with their human neighbors while minimizing predation of livestock (and thank you to BW writer Sara for the tip!).

As always, share your latest cuteness finds in the comments below for that extra bit of joy to counter life’s frustrations!