Who doesn't enjoy a picture of an adorable baby animal?

Many cute creatures have been born in the county over the years at our numerous animal parks, including Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, near Hythe, and Howletts, near Canterbury.

So, for no reason other than to spread some joy, we decided to raid the archives and dig out some of the best pictures of the newborns.

We hope you enjoy them.

Drill monkeys

A drill monkey, named Nyombe, was born at Port Lympne in 2017.

She was born to mum Khari and dad Nebosja, and created excitement among keepers, as drill monkeys are among Africa's most endangered mammals.

Another baby was born to the same parents in 2020, while the park was closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

It was the 13th to be born at the reserve since welcoming the species.

Baby gelada

This baby galeda, shown on its mum's back, arrived at Howletts in August 2018.

Gelada - a species similar to the baboon - are native to Ethiopia, and are often found in large groups, grazing on the high plateaus.

They are the last surviving species of a once widespread group of grass grazing primates.

Elephants calves

In December 2019, an adorable baby elephant was born at Howletts.

The small calf was son to first-time mother Uzuri, 11, and the herd's resident bull, Coco.

A couple of months later in March 2020 another male calf was born at the same park, to mother Etana and Coco.

This birth marked the 26th elephant to be born at Howletts since its opening in 1975.

Howletts is currently home to the largest herd of elephants in the UK.

Lion cubs

Three lion cubs were born at Port Lympne to first time parents Adras and Oudrika in 2019.

The trio of cubs - later named Kulinda, Khari and Binti - were the first to be born at the animal park in over 10 years.

Richard Barnes, animal manager and head of big cat section, said at the time: "We are absolutely delighted to see how well Oudrika and Adras are coping as first-time parents.

"Oudrika is proving to be an excellent mother and is taking great care of the little ones.

"It is still very early days, but it looks as though things are going extremely well."

In January this year, the parents welcomed another three cubs.

Sadly two of them later died.

Tigers

Two rare Sumatran tiger cubs were born at the The Big Cat Sanctuary, in Smarden, in 2011.

Toba and Kubu were born to parents Puna, aged six, and Nias, aged eight, at the end of the summer.

Sumatran tigers, which originate from Sumatra in Indonesia, are one of the rarest big cat species in the world with less than 400 left in the world.

Three Siberian tiger cubs were also born at Howletts in 2008.

Gorillas

An adorable baby gorilla was born at Port Lympne in January last year. Pictures show it resting on its mum's chest.

It was born to first-time mum Viringika, a western lowland gorilla, and silverback Kouillou - being the 18th gorilla infant he has sired.

Other gorillas were born at Howletts and Port Lympne in 2018, 2016, 2012 and 2009.

Giraffes

Port Lympne has also welcomed several baby giraffes over the years, including one to parents Lunar and Lehana, who are both Rothschild giraffes, in 2018.

Lemurs

Four baby Red Ruffed Lemurs were delivered in 2012 at Wingham Wildlife Park after mum went into labour in front of stunned onlookers.

Jaguar twins

The arrival of two jaguar twins came as a wonderful surprise to staff at Wingham in 2015, as mum Luna was not particularly big during pregnancy.

She gave birth to a boy and girl, yellow spotted and black, respectively.

Rhino calves

Over 40 rhinos have been born in Kent over the years, including these cuties born in 2018, 2012 and 2006.

Penguins

Rare baby penguins hatched at Wingham Wildlife Park in 2013 - becoming the first of their kind to be hand-reared in Kent.

Lovebird Humboldt penguins Lily and Palamedes became proud parents to the chicks when they emerged from their shells.

Wolf pups

Wingham welcomed the arrival of its first European wolf pups in 2017 after mum Dakota has given birth to a healthy litter of four.

Dakota had dug herself a den before she gave birth, using a fallen over tree and its root system as a natural barrier.

Baby gibbon

In January this year, an extremely rare and endangered baby gibbon was born at Port Lympne, near Hythe.

Named Tiga, he was born to mum Belle at the reserve and joined siblings Satu, five, and Kadua, two, to bring the family of Javan gibbons under dad Gapak to a total of five.

The gibbons, otherwise known as moloch or silvery gibbons, are native to Java, an Indonesian island that also hosts the country's capital of Jakarta.

There are fewer than 2,500 mature Javan gibbons in the world, making them one of the most endangered species of primate in the world.

Lambs

Pictures from Susan Pilcher show lambing season has already started on Romney Marsh this year.

Taken last month, they show the young sheep keeping close to their mothers while enjoying the sunshine.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here