Are you one of those people who like to unwind by seeing funny dog/cat/animal videos? Well, you’re in luck because a number of zoos, mostly from the US recently had a contest of sorts over their most unexpectedly cute animals.
And it looks like they meant the ‘unexpected bit’. Here, you will find not the conventional cuties like dogs and cats, but crocodiles, owls, porcupines and even stingrays.
The photos tweeted by the zoos featured these creatures in their element, or sometimes even out of it. We hope you have your ‘awws’ all stacked up because you have a good chance of running out of them.
Check out these adorable photos.
Whoooo am I? You might think I'm an owl, but I'm not! #UnexpectedlyCute pic.twitter.com/omgXQ8vS6T
— Santa Barbara Zoo (@SantaBarbaraZoo) October 26, 2017
It’s #Halloween season, a time for the #UnexpectedlyCute to shine! Don’t be shy, show off your pearly whites West African Dwarf Croc! pic.twitter.com/3DGHkBqFHK
— Minnesota Zoo (@mnzoo) October 26, 2017
Hiding in barns sounds creepy, but SURPRISE #barnowls are #unexpectedlycute! pic.twitter.com/xfB7jzOZm9
— Maryland Zoo (@marylandzoo) October 26, 2017
He may not be Prince Charming, but we think he’s #UnexpectedlyCute pic.twitter.com/uPmvDUnobv
— Jacksonville Zoo (@jacksonvillezoo) October 26, 2017
Awkward stages can be #UnexpectedlyCute. Penguin chicks sometimes get a fluffy #mullet as they lose their down feathers & grow adult ones! pic.twitter.com/aY5swxx17x
— Maryland Zoo (@marylandzoo) October 26, 2017
Scaly snuggles #UnexpectedlyCute pic.twitter.com/poGj0ytjQd
— Tennessee Aquarium (@TNAquarium) October 26, 2017
This fluffy little carrion eater#UnexpectedlyCute pic.twitter.com/YQrRAQNvSy
— Oregon Zoo (@OregonZoo) October 26, 2017
Another great way to be #UnexpectedlyCute is to be reeeeeeeeeeeeallly teeny like a recently hatched Mona Island coqui! pic.twitter.com/60IBPobZPC
— Zoo Atlanta (@ZooATL) October 26, 2017
We that Vultures make the world a *cuter* place by cleaning up decaying things, don't you? #unexpectedlycute #wearspinkeveryday pic.twitter.com/LTyzzV5PU1
— Maryland Zoo (@marylandzoo) October 26, 2017
We’ll get to the *point*. Not enough people know how cute #Porcupine noses are. #soboopable #unexpectedlycute. pic.twitter.com/GFucoVgdGz
— Maryland Zoo (@marylandzoo) October 26, 2017
Nothing more #UnexpectedlyCute than a rescue baby opossum! pic.twitter.com/Vwfie0BZbY
— Blank Park Zoo (@blankparkzoo) October 26, 2017
Agreed! Opossums are prolific groomers and eat so many ticks while grooming that they help control spread of Lyme disease #UnexpectedlyCute pic.twitter.com/6dcGmM42m0
— Central Florida Zoo (@Centralflzoo) October 26, 2017
The deep sea is full of #UnexpectedlyCute creatures, like this flapjack octopus! pic.twitter.com/ezoE7uV0t9
— MonstereyBooAquarium (@MontereyAq) October 26, 2017
You've heard of Elf on a Shelf, but now get ready for.... #UnexpectedlyCute #ballpython #CentralFloridaZoo pic.twitter.com/CMsY3JyKcc
— Central Florida Zoo (@Centralflzoo) October 26, 2017
Our wild boars are all smiles too, they know they’re cute & an important species within the web of life in Far East Russia.#UnexpectedlyCute pic.twitter.com/ZXeNk4N8Dj
— Minnesota Zoo (@mnzoo) October 26, 2017
Guitarfish grin #UnexpectedlyCute pic.twitter.com/javFOCtudY
— Tennessee Aquarium (@TNAquarium) October 26, 2017
Naked mole #rats have never been so #UnexpectedlyCute. pic.twitter.com/dAnZ2x6Ojl
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) October 26, 2017
My what big eyes you have! #unexpectedlycute pic.twitter.com/WyfIq09Wjn
— Dickerson Park Zoo (@dpzoo) October 26, 2017
Did some say....#UnexpectedlyCute? pic.twitter.com/COo5l71H3A
— National Aquarium (@NatlAquarium) October 26, 2017
This is just the tip of the iceberg! A search with the #UnexpectedlyCute tag will give you lots more.
This is also not the first time that zoos and aquariums had a Twitter battle about their cutest inhabitants. Back in January, the hashtag 'CuteAnimalTweetoff' had similar (and oh so gush-worthy) results.
We’ll leave it up to you to judge who’s the cutest, but this definitely left us ‘unexpectedly’ gushing and gratified!