12 Sweetest Stuffed Animal Surrogate Families

FOXY MOMMA

Sometimes even the slyest of animals needs a little snuggle time. An English farmer discovered several fox cubs whimpering under one of his sheds. Unsure of what to do, the man gave the animals a plush fox toy for comfort. The babies bonded to it instantly, refusing to leave their new mom when they were transferred to a wildlife rescue. The rescue workers slowly weaned the newborns off the toy as they grew, and eventually  released them back into the wild successfully. (Metro)

OWL LOVE YOU ALWAYS

These fuzzy owl chicks fit right in with their soft, stuffed mom. The babies were separated from their real mother in the wild, and they were discovered barely clinging to life. All of the newborns were taken into a wildlife rescue where they were given big doses of TLC. A lot of this love and care came from the workers, but a plush stand-in mom provided extra comfort and familiarity. Plus, the warmest place for an owl chick is under his mom's wing. (Daily Mail)

LEAN ON ME

Estela the Spider Monkey was given her serving of  hard knocks right at birth. The newborn was rejected by her mother, leaving Estela feeling traumatized and alone. Zookeepers were able to provide the medical care that the monkey needed, but wanted to find her a special source of love. The staff settled on a small stuffed monkey, which provide the perfect amount of support for Estela. (Care2)

SIGNIFICANT OTTER

This once skinny and starved otter was taken in by the lucky animal lover who found him wandering on a road. After getting off the streets life got sweet for this playful critter. The otter made a fully recovery, with lots of help from a comforting and ever-present teddy bear. (The Sun)

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

This baby ostrich was left out in the rain by his mom, literally. The newborn was found alone in his nest after a rainstorm at the Folly Farm Zoo, abandoned by his mother who sought cover. Zookeepers began hand-rearing the bird, but wanted to provide the ostrich with company that was more on his level. After giving the baby a stuffed version of himself, his health took a noticeable upturn. (First News)

SLOTH LOVE

Baby sloth Sjakie of the Burger's Zoo had a loving mom, but unfortunately she wasn't producing enough milk for her hungry son. Zookeepers started hand-feeding the slow-moving sweetie, but were worried that he was missing out on quality bonding time. Wanting him to grow up with the benefit of furry hugs, the staff gave Sjakie a teddy bear to squeeze. The sloth took to the part-time mom instantly. 

MOM FOR HIRE

After losing their mom two days after birth, a litter of meerkats were in desperate need of care. The man who rescued the newborns, Steve Rowlands, was determined to lessen the trauma, and so he decided to make the animals a makeshift mom. Rowlands put together a hot water bottle and a meerkat stuffed animal, and he gave it to the babies. The meerkats cozied up to their new mom right away. They have since grown into healthy adulthood. (The Sun)

WADDLE WITH YOU 

Sibling rivalry sucks; Pingu the penguin chick can tell you all about it. He got forced out of his family by his hungry sibling that ate all his food. Worried about his low weight, zookeepers began hand-rearing Pingu, but the little guy got lonely without another feathered friend. To solve Pingu's problems, the staff bought him a stuffed toy. The baby bird and bugged-eyed plush animal hit it off instantly, cuddling, having staring contests and generally looking cute. (ZooBorns)

FEEDING TIME

PAWS Wildlife Center got a sweet surprise when the rescue received two different orphaned beavers. Baby beavers are a rare occurrence at the center, but the fact that these newborns came in a pair was ideal for the social creatures. Beavers learn everything from each other, so it was important that the kits experience minimal human interaction. To help the babies prepare for life in the wild, the staff fed them by tucking warm bottles into a beaver stuffed animal. (KOMO News)

DOGGONE MOM

Sharon Langeland is an experienced animal rescuer, having saved over 50 feral cats. Part of her success is thanks to a special trick. After watching a documentary about orphaned animals and their love for plush surrogate moms, Langeland has given all of her foster kittens a stuffie to snuggle with. Black and white Gambit is one of the many kittens once under Langeland's care that grew into a social and loving cat thanks to the extra plush love. (MLive)

KISS OF KINDNESS

Boo the orangutan was raised by his loving mother until she passed due to a chronic pulmonary disorder, leaving the 9-month-old primate with a lack of love. To help Boo recover from the loss and prevent human dependency, zookeepers introduced the baby to his aunts and uncles, and then provided him with a stuffed animal for affection. The plush toy was happy to oblige. (NBC News)