Yes, the animals you are about to see are born to be wild and will make you say "AW", but they're also in danger of going extinct. 

Luckily, ZooBorns is here to up the cute factor and educate you on these beautiful babies at the same time.  ZooBorns is a group committed to keeping the cutest exotic animal babies safe and secure, while promoting animal conservation and delivering them to zoos and aquariums all over the world.

Run by animal lovers, one an artist, the other a zoology buff, ZooBorns is here to bring yout the latest and the cutest animal baby photos and of course, let you in on some animal conservation tips at the same time.  We know they've already started, so now it's your turn.

Paw-Talk was fortunate enough to speak to Andrew, the zoology buff, get a glimpse at the group, and hear about their upcoming ZooBorns book!) It's definitely going to be the most adorable one of the year!

What is ZooBorns?

ZooBorns delivers the newest and cutest exotic animal babies from zoos and aquariums around the world. We work directly with accredited organizations which are committed to conservation as well as their animals’ welfare. We hope to educate while we entertain.

Why focus specifically on how animals are protected in zoos and aquariums?

Most people think baby animals are cute, but zoo breeding programs are about more than just little furry faces. For endangered animals, zoo births are often planned months or even years in advance as part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP). The idea is that if wild populations ever shrink to a size too small to rebound on their own, they might be repopulated with diverse genetic stock from zoo populations.

According to ZooBorns and your own personal knowledge, how do zoos and aquariums help to protect animals?

In my opinion, the greatest service of zoos and aquariums is building awareness for the need to protect endangered animals in the wild. Of course these organizations perform vital behavioral research and develop conservation models that help protect wild populations, and these initiatives are important. But ultimately, connecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide directly with animals provides incalculable value in public support for conservation, both financial and ethical.

Where do you get the content that you regularly feature like pictures, news, etc?

Zoos and aquariums share their pictures directly with us because we provide publicity and share their education and conservation goals. We also get a smaller portion of our pictures from amateur photographers who enjoy spending their weekends at zoos – something we can relate to.
 
Where did your love for animals and zoology come from?

My parents took my brother and me to the Bronx Zoo 6-10 times a year growing up and allowed us to have a small menagerie at home (5 cats, 3 dogs, 4 turtles, 2 snakes, 2 hermit crabs, countless fish and lizards, a crayfish and a hedgehog) but ultimately I think we were born with it. That being said, I attribute my interest in conservation directly to the “rainforest counter” outside of Jungle World at the Bronx Zoo. This LCD screen would steadily count down the acreage of rainforest left in the world and each time I returned I would be shocked at how much had been lost. This simple electronic exhibit made a lasting impression on me at a young age.

Why the need to feature a blog entirely devoted to exotic baby animals? 

Enough with the kittens and puppies already! Kidding. I love domestic pets as much as anyone, but ZooBorns is meant to be more than simply a “cute site.” For example, a baby Sumatran Orangutan on ZooBorns serves as an ambassador for her critically endangered species. We hope her tiny face makes our readers want to help protect these incredible creatures in the wild.  

Is animal conservation really a major issue? Are animals that are endangered really under severe threat? What are some of the causes?

Unfortunately it is often the least known animals that are under the most threat. While you may know some of the more charismatic animals on the Critically Endangered List, like gorillas and rhinoceroses, the vast majority are animals only zoologists have heard of. For example, when’s the last time you worried about the plight of the Painted Hunting Dog, Malabar civet, Fijian monkey-faced bat, or Kipunji?. Once you get to the fish and birds, the animals have very few champions. To make matters even worse, these are only the species we know about. Odds are that there are many more times this number of critically endangered species in the wild. Most will be gone before we even know they exist!

Threats includes habitat destruction, pollution, poaching, capture for the pet trade and disease.   

What are some of the ways an average person can contribute to the need for education and awareness on this topic?

There’s a lot you can do to support conservation efforts. Supporting your local accredited zoo or aquarium is one important way you can help. If there is a particular animal that you feel a connection with, look online to see if there is a way to directly support conservation efforts for that species. Even if you don’t have money to give, letting your congressmen or senator know that animal conservation is important to you can ultimately help shape national policy on the matter.

ZooBorns: The Book is on its way! Tell me about the process and where you are now with it. 

ZooBorns: The Book could be the cutest animal book ever created. Right now the best estimates are that the book will hit the shelves sometime late next summer, but we shall see. It turns out that it takes a really long time to come out with a book!

Why are zoos so important for wildlife and animal conservation? 

Zoos and aquariums directly connect people with conservation in a way nothing else can (unless you can afford to fly around the world touring deserts, rainforests and oceans). If you want people to care about curing a disease, introduce them to a patient. If you want people to care about protecting endangered species, introduce them to that animal. Better yet, introduce them to a baby animal!

Image Credit: Taronga.org.au