The black footed ferret, a member of the weasel family, is considered endangered by the IUCN. In fact, the animals were declared extinct in 1979, although two years later a small population was discovered in Wyoming. Today, thanks to conservation efforts, there are about 1,000 of the animals across the central U.S. states, making them one of America’s top conservation success stories.
PHOTOS: The 15 Cutest Endangered Animals in the World
As photos of Israel's newborn sand kittens charm the Internet, TIME takes a look at more endangered adorableness from around the world.