The cutest things that have happened in Australia this year so far
1. These baby meerkats, which were the first born at Taronga Zoo in almost seven years.
Images: Paul Fahy / Taronga Zoo
The pups were born on 7 January weighing just a few grams each.
2. Humphrey the baby white rhino which ‘crashed’ onto the scene at Australia Zoo in February.
Images courtesy Australia Zoo
Humphrey was born in October last year and had gained 200kg by the time he was four months old.
3. These baby boy platypuses that emerged from their burrow in Victoria in March.
Video courtesy Healesville Sanctuary
The pair emerged from their burrow 133 days after hatching at Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria.
4. This baby king brown snake taking its first breath.
Video: Billy Collett / Australian Reptile Park
The newly hatched king brown, or mulga, snake was part of a breeding program at the Australian Reptile Park on the New South Wales Central Coast.
5. These new feathertail gliders born at Taronga Zoo in March.
Images: Madeleine Smitham/Taronga Zoo
The feathertail glider is the world’s smallest gliding mammal, and Taronga Zoo in Sydney was the first zoo to ever breed the tiny marsupial.
6. This baby alligator hatching like something out of Jurassic Park.
Video: Tim Faulkner/Australian Reptile Park
The gooey scene caught on camera at the Australian Reptile Park went viral around the world in March, but it was just another day in the office for staff at the park.
7. Derek, the orphaned wombat, and his beach run.
Video: Sean Scott Photography
Photographer Sean Scott filmed this orphaned wombat joey running along a beach on Flinders Island in March. We spoke to the ‘wombat lady of Flinders Island’ who first found Derek on her way to work, and now cares for him.
8. This surprise appearance of an endangered brush-tailed rock wallaby.
Images: Paul Fahy / Taronga Zoo
The joey surprised zoo keepers when it emerged from mum’s pouch in April, more than a year after the only resident male left the zoo.
9. Jack the ‘jealous’ joey wombat turned YouTube star.
Video: Lindy Butcher / ACT Wildlife
Six-month old Jack is being cared for at ACT Wildlife after his mother was hit by a car earlier this year. Volunteers have been filming his antics and he’s become a bit of a star.
10. This amazing photo of a koala joey born at Australia Zoo this year.
Images courtesy Australia Zoo
The baby male koala was the first of a record 13 born this season at Australia Zoo in Queensland.
11. Bonsai the baby echidna’s promising recovery following a chicken attack.
Images: Paul Fahy / Taronga Zoo
The baby echidna was brought to Taronga Zoo after being attacked by chickens in a family backyard in Newcastle. He was nicknamed Bonsai because he was so small for his four months of age.
