Now and then, amidst all the bad news that appears in the headlines, there’s a heartwarming story about an adorable animal. Sometimes they have achieved a great feat of history or accomplished a heroic act, and other times they just look so cute or hilarious that they've become meme-worthy.
In 2026, the internet became obsessed with Punch the Monkey and his IKEA plush toy. In 2016, it was Harambe the gorilla who broke everyone's hearts, and 65 years ago, the world watched in awe as Laika the dog became the first living organism in space.
So, what are some of the admirable animals that have captured headlines and hearts? Click on to find out.