Zoos Battle It Out on Twitter Over Cutest Animal

Over the weekend, zoos around the world battled it out on Twitter to see who had the cutest animals of them all. It all started when the Smithsonian National Zoo took to Twitter to announce the birth of a female gray seal on January 21. The seal’s mother is now the oldest gray seal to give birth in a zoo. But the tweet sparked a huge response due to the adorableness of the baby seal itself.

We welcomed a gray seal pup Jan. 21. The pup appears to be nursing, moving & bonding well w/ mom. https://t.co/l0Bzu7g8ek #Squee pic.twitter.com/nEhuJe6vBk

— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 25, 2017

In fact, it started an epic cuteness battle between zoos and aquariums for who has the most lovable animals. Virginia Aquarium accepted the challenge next, tweeting out a picture of an otter/osprey combination.

@SarahJanetHill #challengeaccepted We see @NationalZoo 's seal pup, and raise an otter/osprey combo. pic.twitter.com/D9zDWXxuDb

— Virginia Aquarium (@VAAquarium) January 25, 2017

To which the National Zoo responded with the most adorable face.

.@VAAquarium This is Redd, our endangered Bornean orangutan infant. And he is the cutest. Do you fold yet? #challengeaccepted pic.twitter.com/ED6WiZun1R

— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 25, 2017

Back and forth the two zoos went at it, with Virginia Aquarium responding with the tiniest baby sea turtle.

@NationalZoo Don't worry, we're still here. pic.twitter.com/0Qm9dcvMD9

— Virginia Aquarium (@VAAquarium) January 25, 2017

After the battle gained some traction, more and more zoos picked up on the trending hashtag and submitted their own animal photos and videos into the mix. The competition is still going strong today, and you can follow along with the hashtag #CuteAnimalTweetOff. Click to the next page to see a few of our favorite cuddly submissions.

Oh no she didn't! Our baby jaguar Babette just entered a selfie in the #cuteanimaltweetoff. pic.twitter.com/yj12hr8vdk

— Tulsa Zoo (@TulsaZoo) January 26, 2017

It's not a competition, but ... #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/bhZkbvetT4

— Reid Park Zoo (@ReidParkZoo) January 25, 2017

Paws down, we have the cutest animal duo!

— Columbus Zoo (@ColumbusZoo) January 26, 2017

Welcome this cozy cheetah cub to the #cuteanimaltweetoff! pic.twitter.com/vdhUKmyRqa

— Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo) January 26, 2017

@SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @sandiegozoo @ZooATL @sfzoo @phillyzoo @PhoenixZoo @zoomiami #cuteanimaltweetoff? Bam: an oldie but a goodie. pic.twitter.com/6kjrTXG9dl

— Bronx Zoo (@BronxZoo) January 25, 2017

@SarahJanetHill @VLMuseum @BronxZoo @sandiegozoo @sfzoo @phillyzoo @PhoenixZoo @zoomiami We're always down for a #cuteanimaltweetoff! pic.twitter.com/hmkYOLBjrx

— Zoo Atlanta (@ZooATL) January 25, 2017

"Excuse me, can I get in on this, too?" #CuteAnimalTweetOff pic.twitter.com/MATHGrJgvI

— Elmwood Park Zoo (@ElmwoodParkZoo) January 25, 2017