Clouded Leopard Credit: Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoo These two male clouded leopard cubs, named Sa Ming ("brave warrior" and Ta Moon ("mischievous child", were born in March 2009 at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The species gets its name from the shape of the cat's markings, which can look like dark clouds on a tan background. Clouded leopards are native to Southeast Asia and are listed as vulnerable to extinction due to deforestation and hunting.The creatures have been difficult to breed in captivity, so the birth of the cubs was especially exciting to zoologists. Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Credit: Smithsonian's National Zoo Though they grow up to be decidedly un-cuddly, baby porcupines are comparatively soft. This baby girl prehensile-tailed porcupine was born in April 2005 at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C.As the babies grow to adult size over about a year, they gradually losetheir red hair and grow stiff, sharp spines. These creatures are rodents native to Central and South America. Their tails ("prehensile" means adapted for grasping or holding) act as fifth limbs to help grab branches while climbing Batagur Baska Turtle Credit: Zoo Vienna/Norbert Potensky This adorable Batagurbaska turtle is one of only 20 individuals known to exist in the wild and in captivity among this critically endangered species. Six of those, including this baby, live at the Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. This baby's birth was the first time this species was successfully bred in captivity. At home in the rivers of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India and Bangladesh, Batagur baska turtles were hunted almost to extinction for their meat and eggs, which are considered a delicacy. World's Cutest Baby Wild Animals Credit: Houston Zoo Even newborn elephants are still some of the animal world's heftiest creatures. This baby Asian elephant, named Baylor, was born weighing 348 pounds (158 kilograms) in May 2010 at the Houston Zoo. Mom Shanti endured a pregnancy lasting almost 23 months. About two hours after birth the calf was able to stand on his own. American Flamingo Credit: Audubon Zoo Adult flamingos may be known for their garish colors and lofty grace,but their babies look like little white balls of fur. This chick was born at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Flamingo chicks take between 24 and 36 hours to hatch out of their eggs, which they do by pecking with a special growth on their bill called an egg tooth. This false "tooth" falls off soon after hatching. Meanwhile, their thin-legged mother birds teeter over them.