wild animals

From ferocious lions to swimming penguins, this collection of artsy pictures from the Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg, Germany, will have you mesmerized. The zoo, which opened its gates in 1863 and has been run by the Hagenbeck family since 1907, was the first to use open enclosures surrounded by moats instead of barred cages to create a more natural setting. Encompassing several acres, the park houses animals from all over the world, including tropical sharks, Asian elephants, tigers, and lions. Click through this collection of artistic images that share the amazing beauty of the animals of this zoo.

Mom knows best, especially in the animal world. A glimpse of these mothers at work and play with their little ones is proof that the special mother-child bond is a celebration our animal friends share. Cute critters rely on mom to teach them the ways of the world, so in honor of our moms — and theirs — here's a look at some of the cutest animal moms and their babes.

Meet the most smiley animal on earth: the quokka. A native of Australia, the quokka is a marsupial in the macropod family (along with wallabies and kangaroos) with a permanently positive outlook. Its most distinct characteristic is the appearance that it is always smiling. If you're feeling blue or just having a bad day, look no further. Click through to get an instant mood-booster and learn a few fun facts about quokkas while you're at it!

The Brookfield Zoo welcomed an adorable Angolan Colobus baby monkey just a few weeks ago, and this little one is seriously sweet. Baby Angolan monkeys are born completely white, turn gray, and then black, which is the color they'll remain through adulthood. This unique primate is native to the dense rain forests of central Africa and are thriving in zoos. Click through for pictures of the new addition and a few interesting facts about Angolan monkeys.

Polar bears are big, bumbling, and just adorable — and they sure love the snow. We can't get enough of these amazing wild animals, from Siku, the adorable polar bear cub, to the family of bears showcased in the new film To the Arctic. Following a family of polar bears through the challenges of living on the frozen tundra, the stunning movie opened in theaters March 26 and is available on Blu-ray 3D combo pack and digital download, too. Click through for a peek at this amazing adventure.

In northern France, a 3-year-old white tiger named Lisa gave birth to two sweet white tigers in October. Now that these little guys are 2 months old, they're discovering their home and getting a little rambunctious. White tigers are a relatively rare species and their protection is a necessity! Since it is Winter, after all, what better way to celebrate than with some cute photos of these beautiful white tigers and their proud mama? Prepare for some serious seasonal cute.

Now that it's officially the year of the snake, we thought it might be helpful to share some interesting facts about the serpent. Along with being phenomenal at slithering around, snakes come after dragons in the Chinese zodiac, replacing the symbol of good fortune and power with wisdom and mystery. Part of the 12-year cycle of animals that make up the zodiac, people born under the snake are thought to have good tempers and strong communication skills but may have jealous and suspicious tendencies. Click through for a collection of snake pictures paired with more information about our slithering friends.

There's nothing cuter than animals playing their hearts out in the snow. The Winter setting may give you the chills, but the sheer joy on these animals' faces will make you feel all warm and fuzzy. From puppies rolling around in the frost to wild horses running across a frozen meadow, we've culled the happiest animals playing in the Winter wonderland. Curl up by the fire and click on!

Today might be Hug a Bear Day, but if there's one rule you can count on while camping or hiking, it's that bears don't take kindly to embraces. In fact, if you encounter an adorable grizzly, polar, or kodiak while out on the trail, you should avoid eye contact and walk slowly away so as not to provoke or startle them. And even if you encounter a huggable-looking baby bear, get away while you can because his protective (and much larger) mother is undoubtedly nearby. Bear cubs sure are cute, though, so we thought we'd celebrate this unusual holiday with a roundup of cuddly ursine photos. And if you get the urge to give one a squeeze, please grab the nearest pal or teddy bear instead!