Dakota, the porcupette. Photo: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
This little guy was born when San Diego Zoo's veterinary team performed the first-ever C-section for a North American porcupine earlier this year.
Why it matters: The landmark procedure saved the lives of the mother, Maizey, and baby Dakota, and could help improve long-term survival rates for the species.
Fun fact: Baby porcupines are called porcupettes.
In othercute zoo baby news, a new sumatran tiger cub was born at the Safari Park in August as the zoo works to conserve the critically endangered species.
