Zoos' Cute Animal Twitter Battle a Welcome Respite From News Lately

If you’re tired of hearing about politics, this Twitter battle between various zoos for the cutest animal picture will be a welcome palate cleanser.

It all started when the National Zoo posted a picture of its newborn baby gray seal pup on Wednesday, USA Today reported.

We welcomed a gray seal pup Jan. 21. The pup appears to be nursing, moving & bonding well w/ mom. https://t.co/l0Bzu7g8ek #Squee pic.twitter.com/nEhuJe6vBk

— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 25, 2017

Twitter user Sarah Hill then challenged the Virginia Aquarium to post an even cuter pic, and soon the two zoos were happily trying to one-up each other.

@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

Sarah then put it out to other zoos as well, and the #CuteAnimalTweetOff was born.

@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

Oh no she didn't! Our baby jaguar Babette just entered a selfie in the #cuteanimaltweetoff. pic.twitter.com/yj12hr8vdk

— Tulsa Zoo (@TulsaZoo) January 26, 2017

We're all for this #CuteAnimalTweetOff happening to help us balance the bad news lately. PENGUINS! pic.twitter.com/8xDB4Aqi41

— Sierra Club (@SierraClub) January 27, 2017

"Excuse me, can I get in on this, too?" #CuteAnimalTweetOff pic.twitter.com/MATHGrJgvI

— Elmwood Park Zoo (@ElmwoodParkZoo) January 25, 2017

Twitter users all over are welcoming the chance to look at cute baby animals to balance out the constant barrage of political news.

so apparently zoos all over the US were tweeting cute animals under the tag #CuteAnimalTweetOff go do yourself a favor and click it

— miski (@miskiart) January 27, 2017

If someone is having a bad day, just point them to the fact that zoos have begun a twitter war #cuteanimaltweetoff

— Koka Biel (@_Kabaiel_) January 25, 2017

#cuteanimaltweetoff
go ahead...click on the hashtag. You won't regret it. I promise.

— Abbey (@abbeysavvy_) January 27, 2017

This is exactly what I need right now #cuteanimaltweetoff

— Kim Brady (@MetricBlue) January 27, 2017