In light of current affairs and not-so-nice news stories, America's zoos and aquariums have graced Twitter with a picture-perfect remedy: a cute animal tweet off. Competing over whose animals are cutest, the organizations have flooded social media with much-needed photos of lovable animals.
The adorable argument erupted after reporter Pete Muntean gushed over the Smithsonian National Zoo's newest seal pup in a too-cute tweet.
The 🔑 to a great press release? Seal pups! Thanks for the cuteness, @NationalZoo! pic.twitter.com/vCOgaz8NhN
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) January 25, 2017
Virginia-based radio host and all-around animal lover Sarah Hill retweeted the picture and challenged the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Life Center to post an equally—if not more—adorable photo.
Your move @VAAquarium 😉 https://t.co/lhBwalpprO
— Sarah Hill (@SarahJanetHill) January 25, 2017
The aquarium happily complied, and responded with an image of an otter and an osprey combo. Much to Twitter's amusement, the two institutions continued to share images of their favorite furry (and scaly) friends, including a sweet baby orangutan and a teeny-tiny turtle.
@SarahJanetHill #challengeaccepted We see @NationalZoo ‘s seal pup, and raise an otter/osprey combo. pic.twitter.com/D9zDWXxuDb
— Virginia Aquarium (@VAAquarium) January 25, 2017
.@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
@NationalZoo Don't worry, we're still here. pic.twitter.com/0Qm9dcvMD9
— Virginia Aquarium (@VAAquarium) January 25, 2017
.@VAAquarium Yawn. pic.twitter.com/szDSpmWnud
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 25, 2017
As if the excellent exchange wasn't already too good to be true, more and more organizations entered the captivating competition, sharing their own snaps and proving that social media truly was made for adorable animal photos.
Our river #otters don't want to be left out of the #CuteAnimalTweetOff! pic.twitter.com/9WfXmsEtCt
— Seattle Aquarium (@SeattleAquarium) January 25, 2017
For the reptile lovers: A tiny mossy leaf-tailed gecko. 💚 #CuteAnimalTweetOff pic.twitter.com/ZX5DN1iNG8
— San Diego Zoo (@sandiegozoo) January 25, 2017
Ziggy the harbor seal pup just made her debut at the L.A. Zoo yesterday! https://t.co/wfoaul9oh1 #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/tAexF7mZJO
— Los Angeles Zoo (@LAZoo) January 25, 2017
@VAAquarium @phillyzoo @ZooATL @BronxZoo @SarahJanetHill Ahem, the world's smallest deer checking in for the #cuteanimaltweetoff. #pudu pic.twitter.com/b4sZbQTz56
— Queens Zoo (@thequeenszoo) January 25, 2017
“Excuse me, can I get in on this, too?” #CuteAnimalTweetOff pic.twitter.com/MATHGrJgvI
— Elmwood Park Zoo (@ElmwoodParkZoo) January 25, 2017
#CuteAnimalTweetOff throwback to the cutest cloudy bellies! #cloudedleopards #savingspecies #endangered pic.twitter.com/ksxX5vH4t1
— Point Defiance Zoo (@PtDefianceZoo) January 25, 2017
It's not a competition, but … #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/bhZkbvetT4
— Reid Park Zoo (@ReidParkZoo) January 25, 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
@VAAquarium @phillyzoo @ZooATL @BronxZoo @SarahJanetHill Ahem, the world's smallest deer checking in for the #cuteanimaltweetoff. #pudu pic.twitter.com/b4sZbQTz56
— Queens Zoo (@thequeenszoo) January 25, 2017
We'll just leave this little bit #squee right here. #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/NxdiduKq5z
— Reid Park Zoo (@ReidParkZoo) January 25, 2017
I got here as fast as I could… #cuteanimaltweetoff pic.twitter.com/wPWHHoPaS1
— Los Angeles Zoo (@LAZoo) January 25, 2017
Challenge accepted! #CuteAnimalTweetOff @NatlAquarium @SarahJanetHill @MontereyAq @GeorgiaAquarium pic.twitter.com/q28s1AJLsN
— Tennessee Aquarium (@TNAquarium) January 25, 2017
We see you, @TNAquarium. Meet Megatron the rescue seal. #CuteAnimalTweetOff pic.twitter.com/3HjLY70RzT
— National Aquarium (@NatlAquarium) January 25, 2017
Unlike other post-inauguration feuds that have been popping up all over Twitter, this delightful duel has brought people together through its celebration of cute and cuddly creatures.
h/t: [Mashable]
