72 CUTEST ANIMALS

A diverse group competes for this episode's king of cuteness, from the soft and lovable koala to the gorilla and a dark horse candidate, the octopus.

They're very different, but the adorable marsupial quokka and kangaroo are pitted against baby elephants and goats to see who really is the cutest.

Having power, size and speed doesn't mean an animal isn't cute, but the humpback whale and the cheetah have stiff competition from the echidna.

It's the giant giraffe versus the world's smallest penguins in this contest for cuteness, with alpacas, orangutans and dolphins putting in their bids.

Some cute animals have bad reputations, like the brown bear or the meerkat, but they go snout-to-snout for cuddliness with any animal, even a bunny.

Manatees, leopards, penguins and whale sharks are all beloved by their caregivers, who explain why they're really the cutest creatures on Earth.

The zebra, flamingo, snow monkey and Malayan tapir are admired for their unique, colorful markings, but even these oddities can still count as cute.

Marmosets, squirrels and arctic foxes all have prominent tails, but the mighty rhinoceros is a surprising entry in this tail-wagging cuteness contest.

The stubborn but lovable wombat might overtake the cuteness factor of a hippopotamus' grin, but can it win out over an adorably cuddly baby sea otter?

From the North Pole to the South, competitive cuteness reigns, from the majestic polar bear to the cheeky spider monkey and adorable kangaroo joey.

When it comes to showoffs, the peafowl might have every other animal beat, until it's up against the antics of a baby panda and a bull elephant seal.

Slow and wise can compete with the young when the ancient-looking, cotton-topped tamarin and the Galapagos turtle face off with the cassowary.