No matter how many times I visited the zoo as a child, there was always something new to see. Whether it was sitting front row at meerkat feeding time or a new pair of mountain lion cubs making their debut, I never tired of seeing native and exotic animals. Even today, I’ll never say no to a trip to the zoo!
If I lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, it’s safe to say that I’d be waiting for the day their newest baby animal was available for the public to see. Ellie is an orphaned baby opossum who came to the Cincinnati Zoo from Ohio Wildlife Rehab, and she’s already stolen the hearts of her caretakers and social media fans. She hasn’t even been in her new home for a week, but she’s clearly leaving a mark.
On June 4, the zoo posted the sweetest photos from Ellie’s daily appointment, where her weight and measurements were taken. Just when I thought she couldn’t get any cuter, she raises the bar even higher!
@cincinnatizoo Meet Ellie, the rescued orphaned opossum at the Cincinnati Zoo! 🥹😍🤩
This sweet baby animal looks more like a cartoon character than a real creature! She has comically large claws, ears, and eyes, but as a whole, they couldn’t be more charming.
“Someone’s only job needs to be telling Ellie how pretty she is,” a commenter named Molly gushed. I would happily volunteer! This tiny orphan deserves all the love and pampering in the world, and it’s safe to say that her caretakers at the Cincinnati Zoo are doing as much as they can for her.
Related: Washington D.C.’s National Zoo Welcomes One-Eyed Opossum Ambassador
Even Ellie’s online fans are ready to go to war in her name! I couldn’t help but smile when I read Teresa’s comment: “Ellie’s about to have some people wrapped around her cute little paws.” It’s absolutely true!
At the same time, Bethaney’s comment is both relatable and hilarious. She admitted, “The opossum in my backyard isn’t this cute!” Ellie’s genetics are certainly on her side, but it’s not likely that anyone would see a baby possum wandering around, either.
Baby possums, or opossums, as they are formally known, typically stay with their mothers for the first several months of life. Without her mom around to care for her, Ellie needed some extra helping hands! Zoo staff named her after Ellie, the mammoth who thinks she’s a possum, from Ice Age, and they grow more attached to her every day.
These zoo professionals aren’t the only ones crazy about this cutie pie. A commenter called @tpendle read my mind when she said, “Where are you located? Ignore the carrier in the back of my car. It’s just there for decoration.”
As adorable as it would be to baby-nap this tiny possum, we will all have to live vicariously through the zoo’s heartwarming videos. Let’s hope that Ellie knows just what a star she is!
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