The world’s cutest animals can trigger a powerful response in many of us: their adorable faces, big soulful eyes and delicate facial features can really tug at our heartstrings. In fact, scientists think that when we see a set of facial and body characteristics commonly seen in human babies, it triggers a nurturing response. It is no wonder, then, that photos and videos of the most cute and beautiful animals in 2024 head advertising campaigns, promote causes, and spread like wildfire on social media.
1. Fennec Fox
Native to the deserts of North Africa, this is the smallest fox species on the planet, which only seems to make their most distinctive feature – those wonderfully oversized ears – even cuter. They live in burrows buried deep in the sand and only come out to hunt at night in order to protect themselves from the searing daytime temperatures. Those ears serve a purpose there, too: radiating heat to help keep the fennec fox cool.
2. Adélie Penguin
True, the Adélie penguin – found in the Antarctic – is undeniably cute. But they are also one of the fiercest hunters of all penguins. These birds can be quite aggressive, taking on challenges from much larger predators (and humans) that get too close. They are also excellent swimmers, able to move through the water at 14kmh (9.3 mph) when hunting. The species get their name from the French Antarctic explorer Jules Dumont D’Urville, who named them after his wife Adéle upon discovering them.
3. Rusty-Spotted Cat
One of the smallest cat species in the world also happens to be one of the cutest. Like that moment in Shrek II when Puss In Boots turns on his charm, it would be very difficult to resist this beautiful feline. On average, the rusty-spotted cat weighs around 1kg and is 50cm long – that’s smaller than most house cats. This cat is incredibly hard to spot, preferring to hide in dense forests of India, Sri Lanka, and small areas of Nepal. In recent years, their numbers have been dropping due to habitat loss.