2015 brought animals big and small to zoos across the country. Some of the best debuts are featured in videos below.
Pandas at The National Zoo
Giant panda Mei Xiang welcomed twin panda cubs Aug. 22 at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, one of the cubs passed away four days later. The surviving twin, a male, was announced with the name Bei Bei, Chinese for "precious treasure," in September.
Gorilla at Fort Worth Zoo
Parents Elmo and Gracie had their first baby Dec. 5. The male gorilla was the first time a western lowland gorilla was born at the Texas zoo. He has yet to be named while he continues to bond with his mother.
Giraffe at Brevard Zoo
Melbourne, Florida, welcomed a baby giraffe Dec. 3. The female calf weighed 152 pounds when she was born. She made her exhibit debut Tuesday.
Hippo at San Diego Zoo
Mother Funani gave birth to a calf March. 23. San Diego Zoo announced the arrival with a video of Funani teaching her calf how to swim. It was announced two months later that the baby river hippo was a girl named Devi.
Orangutan at Zoo Atlanta
Keju was 6 months old when she met her foster mother, Madu, Oct.18. The infant Bornean orangutan came to Zoo Atlanta from the Dane County Henry Villas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Keju was born April 9 to a first-time mother. Since orangutans often have difficulty parenting for the first time, Keju was brought to Atlanta for fostering. After more than two months together, Keju and Madu have bonded.
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