So ugly they're cute... Part 1

I’ve always liked animals. I was one of approximately one-third of all children ever who at one point or another decided they were going to be a veterinarian when they grew up. Then at some point I did grow up and realized that career path was all kinds of gross and smelly, and that’s just the college classmates I’d have to sit next to for the 6+ years of school I’d have to attend. Never mind the bodily fluids and functions of the animals I’d have to work with.

So that particular ambition faded over time, but I still love animals. I just don’t get paid for it. I’ve always had a particular affinity for the ugly ducklings, so to speak. In elementary school when we had to write a report on an animal of our choice, I chose the three-toed sloth and when we had to pick a particular subject to do a series of pieces on in high school art, I chose the opossum. To this day, I still have my collection drawings, paintings, and collages all in ode to the opossum. What can I say? I like an underdog.

Sure kittens are adorable and puppies are little furry pieces of heaven, but I still have a special place in my heart for the ugliest of the animals, especially their young ones. So, in their honor, I give you seven baby animals that are so fugly they’re adorable. They’re coming one a day and I dare you not to be won over by their charms. Since I’ve already mentioned the sloth, I’ll start there.

Sloths have many features that will appear often in this list. Bug eyes:

Cute tongues:

A clingy personality:

And just a general sense of adorable innocence:

They’re fun to watch too. They squeak!

Fun fact: Actress Kristen Bell’s favorite animal is the sloth. She loves them so much that when one visited for her 31st birthday she broke down into tears. Awww.

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All images courtesy of Zooborns