Dachshund Nurses Tiger Cub
More interspecies pallin' around at Germany's Stroehen Zoo, where a female dachshund stepped up to play mommy to an "orphaned" tiger cub in May 2009. The hapless cub, after being rejected by its true mother after his birth, was soon adopted by a male dachshund named Monster. But within only a few days, Monster was killed after being run over by a mail truck. Luckily, Monster's daughter Bessi took a liking to the poor tiger, and stepped into her father's shoes as the cub's caretaker.
Fabian Bimmer, AP
Chacoan Peccaries Born in Los Angeles Zoo
It's been a baby-animal explosion at the L.A. Zoo this year. First the pronghorns in March, a giraffe in April, and then a litter of three Chacoan peccaries in May 2009. Chacoan peccaries are South American ungulates distantly related to wild boar. They are so rare, they were once thought extinct until a few were discovered in 1972. This litter, combined with two separate litters born at the L.A. Zoo last September, make a total of 10 new peccaries born at the zoo in the last year. Good news for this endangered species!
Nick Ut, AP
Elephant Born in Hamburg Zoo
This has been the summer of the zoo elephant, with elephants being born, tragically dying, and just moving hither and thither. The Hamburg Zoo's elephant Tura gave birth on July 3, 2009 to a baby girl named Rani. Rani is the latest addition to a family of 12 elephants at the zoo.
Martin Rose, Getty Images
German Zoos Settle Dispute Over Polar-Bear Cub
A years-long baby drama among German zoos finally was settled July 2009. The polar-bear cub Knut was born in the Berlin Zoo three years ago to a mother who was on loan from the Neumuenster Zoo. When Knut became wildly popular in Berlin, drawing in significant euros, Neumuenster began demanding royalties. The two zoos had feuded bitterly over Knut since then. But last month Berlin finally agreed to pay Neumuenster the equivalent of US $600,000, while retaining possession of the popular polar bear, delighting his many Berliner fans.
John MacDougall, AFP / Getty Images
Elephant Born in Australia Zoo
Australia also celebrated a new elephant calf born the summer of July 2009. This one was born in Sydney's Tonga Zoo. At a special ceremony, the baby was given the name Luk Chai, chosen from 32,000 name suggestions from the public. The name means "male child" and was chosen to recognize the animal's Asian roots.
Bobbie-Jo Vial, AP
Sloth Born in Philadelphia Zoo
Heartwarming news for the lazy: a baby two-toed sloth -- the power animal for shiftless layabouts everywhere -- was born at the Philadelphia Zoo in July 2009. What's remarkable about this birth is that no one saw it coming; zookeepers didn't know the mother was even pregnant. The parents are elderly for sloths, and were thought to be beyond the possibility of reproduction. They're believed to be the oldest sloths ever to give birth in captivity.
Matt Rourke, AP
Elephant Born and Dies Memphis Zoo
Early July 2009, the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee announced the birth of an African elephant at their facility. The interest and excitement for the new baby animal was tragically cut short only two days after the birth. The calf stumbled and fell to the ground, and while attempting to pick her baby back up, its mother accidentally gored it to death with her tusks, shocking the zoo staffers after their time of celebration suddenly transformed into one of mourning.
Drew Smith, Memphis Zoo
Panda Cub Debuts at Thailand Zoo
A giant-panda cub was born in Thailand in May 2009, sparking a nationwide panda-monium of excitement leading up to the cub's debut at the Chiang Mai Zoo last month. Like Philly's two-toed-sloth baby, the panda cub came as a surprise to zookeepers who were unaware of the mother's pregnancy. Ironic, considering the zoo has spent literally years trying to get the parents to mate with stunts like a staged wedding between the pair, and showing panda "porn" to father Chuang Chuang, who'd been much more interested in feasting on bamboo than in getting his swerve on.
Wichai Taprieu, AP
Peninsular Pronghorn Twins Born in Los Angeles Zoo
Two peninsular pronghorn fawns were born at the Los Angeles Zoo in March 2009, the first of the critically endangered, desert-dwelling species to be born at the facility. Pronghorns are among the fastest land animals, able to attain speeds that rival the cheetah. Newborns can walk within an hour of birth, and can outpace humans within a week. The twin males were born as part of the L.A. Zoo's participation in the Peninsular Pronghorn Recovery Project, dedicated to saving these elegant animals from extinction.
David McNew, Getty Images
Philadelphia Says Goodbye to Elephant, Pittsburgh Says Hello
Kallie and Bette, two elephants that made for one of the most popular attractions at the Philadelphia Zoo, moved house in July 2009, travelling to Pennsylvania's other major city, Pittsburgh, to take up residence at the Pittsburgh Zoo's International Conservation Center. Philadelphia's zoo keepers and zoogoers were saddened to see the pair leave, but were happy that the elephants at least were going to a good facility in Somerset County. We're sure Pittsburgh's animal lovers will enjoy Kalle and Bette as much as their fans in Philly did.
Sharon Gekoski-Kimmel, Philadelphia Inquirer / MCT