A Bunch of Cute Endangered Animal Sculptures Have Made Their Home Beside the Yarra

If you need a little dose of cuteness in your life, stop scrolling through animal videos and venture down to Yarra's Edge, where you'll now find 20 adorable baby endangered animals.

Ok, so they're not real, but the bronze sculptures, by renowned Aussie artist duo Gillie and Marc, are pretty darn lifelike and bound to give you some warm fuzzy feelings. And they're there for a great cause, too.

Unveiled on Friday, May 20, the works are part of a new conservation-focused public art project titled Wild About Babies, created in collaboration with property group Mirvac. The fauna-filled installation was designed to raise awareness about the plight of endangered species and will help raise funds for charity partner the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia (WWF Australia).

The artists posing with their mountain gorilla creation.

Spread along the riverside stretch at Yarra's Edge, the artwork features the likenesses of 20 different baby endangered species, watched over by a giant adult mountain gorilla. Among the lineup, you'll spy elephant calves, a Bengal tiger cub, a frolicking zebra foal and even a rock wallaby joey.

Gillie and Marc's detailed sculptures were created based on sketches and photos from the couples' own overseas travels. Not only are you allowed to touch this art, but visitors are encouraged to give the animals a cuddle and can even scan each of the attached QR codes for more information about the creatures in their native habitat.

The artists will also be running a naming competition this winter, inviting the public to submit potential monikers for their favourite animal sculptures. One lucky winner will get naming rights, as well as a name plaque on the sculpture, a Gillie and Marc print and a $100 donation to WWF Australia. Stay tuned to Gillie and Marc's socials for details.

You can find the Wild About Babies sculptures located along the river at Yarra's Edge.