A sleepy polar bear takes a nap on Thomas Caldwellits furry mama in Canada's "polar bear capital of the world," a baby seal "hangs ten" with some California surfers and a friendly dolphin stops to chat with a toddler in MIssissippi. No, this isn't a National Geographic spin-off: It's this year's Best of Animalkind!

We put together some of our must-watch furry friend stories of the year, featuring close-call animal rescues, downright adorable moments with lovable pets, some unlikely mammalian friendships and a ton of other sweet surprises.

Watch these must-see moments with the cutest creatures in this year's Best of Animalkind video above.

Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter, bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox.