Photos: Animal shots of the week
Bear cubs, an ocelot, a "beautiful" bulldog, a blind sea lion and a 39-pound cat - all in this week's animal gallery.
Animal shots of the week
Polar bear cub Anori explores the outdoor enclosure at the zoo in Wuppertal, Germany, on Monday, April 23, 2012. Anori was born on January 4 and is becoming a visitor's highlight. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Animal shots of the week
This Thursday, April 19, 2012 photo provided by the Santa Fe Animal Shelter Meow, a 2-year-old tabby tops the scale at over 39 pounds at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter in Santa Fe, N.M.. Meow, came to the shelter after his elderly owner could no longer care for the feline. The shelter plans to put the cat on a special diet so he can lose weight gradually. Adult cats typically weigh between 7 and 12 pounds. (AP Photo/Santa Fe Animal Shelter, Ben Swan)
Animal shots of the week
In this photo taken April 18, 2012, provided April 19 by the Chicago Zoological Society, a pair of Mexican gray wolves are seen at Brookfield Zoo's Great Bear Wilderness exhibit in Brookfield, Ill. Through a study of Mexican gray wolves, researchers hope to aid in conservation efforts of the endangered species, and determine whether a type of nasal tumor is more prevalent in wolves or domestic dogs. The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, is embarking on a study to determine the occurrence of nasal carcinoma in Mexican gray wolves using CT (CAT) scans. (AP Photo/Chicago Zoological Society, Jim Schulz)
Animal shots of the week
First dog Bo waits to lead reporters to the White House vegetable garden during a preview of the Spring Garden Tour of the White House in Washington, Saturday, April 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Animal shots of the week
Two dozen fox hounds from the Mill Creek Hunt Club in Old Mill Creek, Ill. pause during an exercise outing on the grounds of the 2012 Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, Wis., as presenters and participants prepare for the opening of the annual three day event, Thursday, April 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart)
Animal shots of the week
Three baby bears called Ben, Yogy and Zora take a walk at the Juraparc of Mont-d'Orzieres near Vallorbe, Switzerland, Friday, April 20, 2012. Their mother Ursina gave birth to them on an unknown date in January 2012. (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)
Animal shots of the week
Sihil, an ocelot from the Cincinnati Zoo, lays on the ground as nature photographers and enthusiasts view the cat Thursday April 19, 2012 at Santa Ana National Refuge in San Juan, Texas. People had the opportunity to view a live ocelot in its natural habitat before the 13th annual Ocelot Conservation Festival. (AP Photo/The Monitor, Gabe Hernandez)
Animal shots of the week
Marine mammal experts give reassuring pats to 870-pound Jea [L] and her 253-pound 8-month-old son, Son, after they endured a 4-hour truck trip from Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo to Jacksonville's Bert Maxell Park boat ramp, Wednesday, April 18, 2012. State officials rescued the pair from the cold waters near the JEA Northside Generating Station Feb. 13, and the zoo's manatee hospital treated them for cold stress prior to their homecoming. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Dan Scanlan)
Animal shots of the week
Sihil, an ocelot from the Cincinnati Zoo, stares Thursday April 19, 2012 at Santa Ana National Refuge in San Juan, Texas. People had the opportunity to view a live ocelot in its natural habitat before the 13th annual Ocelot Conservation Festival. (AP Photo/The Monitor, Gabe Hernandez)
Animal shots of the week
Tyson, owned by Tyler and Chelsea Motter, of Urbandale, Iowa, sits on the throne after being crowned the winner of the 33rd annual Drake Relays Beautiful Bulldog Contest Monday, April 23, 2012, in Des Moines, Iowa. The pageant kicks off the Drake Relays festivities at Drake University where a bulldog is the mascot. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Animal shots of the week
A Cornish Rex cat touches noses with a referee during an international feline beauty competition in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, April 22, 2012. The contest, far less enjoyed by the cats than by the numerous visitors, was entered by more than 200 felines. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Animal shots of the week
A manager at the Marine Mammal Care Center feeds a herring to Big Guy, a blind sea lion, in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 20, 2012. Big Guy is headed to the Hogle Zoo in Utah, where he will share a new $18 million habitat called Rocky Shores with sealife, bears and eagles. Officials have spent a few months patching him up and two years trying to find a home for Big Guy. The 750-pound sea lion has spent more time and eaten more food than any other animal ever treated at the center. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Animal shots of the week
In this Saturday, April 21, 2012, photo, Chuck Smith, with the Jacksonville Herpetological Society, holds his 30-year-old Burmese Mountain Tortoise, Big Girl, for visitors to touch during Earth Day activities in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Landing hosted the 2012 Earth Day celebration, the 22nd year of the event which featured informational booths set up by museums, vendors and groups to raise awareness of nature and ways to help recycle and conserve resources. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bob Self)
Animal shots of the week
A voter stands in a polling booth with his dog during the first round of the French elections in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Sunday, April 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
Animal shots of the week
Fabian Ullrich rides with his horse and his dog along a rape field near Witterda, central Germany, Sunday, April 22, 2012. Weatherforecast predicts changeable weather conditions in Germany for the upcoming days. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Animal shots of the week
Families look on as Ruth the elephant plays with the 'octolog' for the first time at Buttonwood Park Zoo, Friday, April 20, 2012 in New Bedford, Mass. The 'octolog' was designed and built by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students especially for Buttonwood Park Zoo's aging elephants. (AP Photo/Standard Times, Peter Pereira)
Animal shots of the week
In this Saturday, April 21, 2012, photo, from left, Alyssa Alcantara, 6, Andrew Wiranata, 6 ,and his sister Sofie Wiranata, 5, pet Daisy May, the Virginia Opossum, at the Museum of Science and History's display during Earth Day activities, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Landing hosted the 2012 Earth Day celebration, the 22nd year of the event which featured informational booths set up by museums, vendors and groups to raise awareness of nature and ways to help recycle and conserve resources. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bob Self)
Animal shots of the week
In this Saturday, April 21, 2012, photo, a White Argentine Taegu lizard, owned by David Collins, draws the attention of children as he rests over Collins' shoulder at the Jacksonville Herpetological Society's exhibit during Earth Day activities. The Jacksonville Landing hosted the 2012 Earth Day celebration, the 22nd year of the event which featured informational booths set up by museums, vendors and groups to raise awareness of nature and ways to help recycle and conserve resources. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bob Self)
Animal shots of the week
Captain Owen Beynon Brown from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery holds his dog Lord Percy, a resident at the barracks up for Tango his horse to greet, at Wellington Barracks in London, Thursday, April 19, 2012. The King's Troop on Thursday were preparing for an inspection in Hyde Park, in preparation for 2012 ceremonial roles in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Trooping the Colour and London 2012 Olympics. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Animal shots of the week
Feral cats roam the beach at a cat-feeding station off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, near Pennsylvania Avenue, in Atlantic City, N.J., Thursday April 19, 2012. The cats are fed and cared for by volunteers as part of the Boardwalk Cats Project. (AP Photo/The Press of Atlantic City, Vernon Ogrodnek)
Animal shots of the week
A Devon Rex is kissed by it's owner during an international feline beauty competition in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, April 22, 2012. The contest, far less enjoyed by the cats than by the numerous visitors, was entered by more than 200 felines.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Animal shots of the week
Feral cats at a cat-feeding station off the Atlantic City Boardwalk, near Pennsylvania Avenue, in Atlantic City, N.J., Thursday April 19, 2012. The cats are fed and cared for by volunteers as part of the Boardwalk Cats Project. (AP Photo/The Press of Atlantic City, Vernon Ogrodnek)
Animal shots of the week
Polar bear cub Anori is with its mother Vilma explores the outdoor enclosure at the zoo in Wuppertal, Germany, on Monday, April 23, 2012. Anori was born on January 4 and is becoming a visitor's highlight. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Animal shots of the week
26-year-old female gorilla Zsa-Zsa holds her baby that was born last Saturday at the zoo in Heidelberg, Germany, Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/dapd, Ronald Wittek)
Animal shots of the week
Kid goats play "King of the Mountain" on the back of Devin Fredericksen at Sandy Bar Ranch in Orleans, Calif. on April 15, 2012. Fredericksen is enrolled in a Permaculture Design Workshop at the ranch that teaches students organic gardening and farming, integrated pest management, natural building techniques, plant propagation and grafting, traditional ecological knowledge, renewable energy systems, water harvesting and much more.
Animal shots of the week
Polar bear cub Anori explores the outdoor enclosure at the zoo in Wuppertal, Germany, on Monday, April 23, 2012. Anori was born on January 4 and is becoming a visitor's highlight. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Animal shots of the week
African Penguins fight for fish during feeding time in their enclosure at the zoo on Monday, April 23, 2012 in Wuppertal, Germany. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Animal shots of the week
Photo provided by Vogelpark Marlow zoo shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel feeding lories (Loriinae) as she visited the bird park Marlow during a tour through her electoral district in Mecklenburg-Western Pommerania Tuesday, April 17, 2012. (AP Photo/dapd, Vogelpark Marlow)
Animal shots of the week
A still unnamed King penguin chick that hatched on April 9 is unveiled at The Aquarium at Moody Gardens, Monday, April 23, 2012, in Galveston, Texas. A blood test will be conducted to determine the gender of the bird who came into life weighing about 20 ounces. This chick is the 14th King penguin chick to have been successfully bred at the aquarium. Due to space limitations, this chick will be go to another facility once weaned from its parents. The chick currently is in the main penguin exhibit at the aquarium which also home to Gentoo, Macaroni, Rockhopper and Chinstrap penguins. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Johnny Hanson)