Elephant Born; Feisty Bobcat; Panda Birthday: All In California

CALIFORNIA – Creatures, great and small, in California, we love them all.

Interesting animals from all over the Golden State made headlines the last few weeks. A baby elephant was born on World Elephant Day, while a giant panda had a special birthday party. Don't miss the videos of rattlesnakes duking it out and a police K9 taking down a jack-in-the-box toy.

Some of the animal stories are adorable. Some will make you cry. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

Baby Elephant Born At Safari Park On World Elephant Day

• The calf, named Umzula-zuli, was born just before midnight on Sunday.

Bears Without A Care: Photos Of Monrovia's Cutest Cubs

• Warning: some are so cute you might want to hug them, but we advise against it

Feisty, Hissing Bobcat Treated For Injuries

• Found by the side of a road, he was likely hit by a car.

Firehouse Just May Have A New Dog In Rancho Santa Fe

• "I knew if I didn't take her with me, she was definitely going to be food for a coyote."

Fundraising Underway For Dog With Heart Defect At Marin Humane

• Without surgery, Evita will likely die within months, according to experts at Marin Humane.

Fundraiser Underway For Sea Lion's Life-Saving Surgery

• Rory, a young California sea lion, was found at Pirates Cove in Malibu suffering from an abscess that just wouldn't heal.

Happy Birthday, Xiao Liwu! Giant Panda Turns 6 At San Diego Zoo

• WATCH: The giant panda celebrated his birthday with party bags filled with treats, stuffed burlap pillows and six bamboo-bread cupcakes.

Hunter 'Severely Mauled' By Black Bear In Riverside County

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials say the man remains hospitalized following the brutal attack.

Kitten Rescued From Highway 101 Now Available For Adoption

• "This little kitten’s story would have been much different, had he not been rescued by a quick-thinking Good Samaritan and brought to us."

Meet Sprout! Public Names Sea Otter At Marine Mammal Center

• The Sausalito-based center received more than 4,500 votes from visitors to the center's hospital, website and social media pages.

Most – And Least – Pet-Friendly Cities In CA: LIST

• Six cities in California ranked among the top 20 most pet-friendly in the U.S., according to a new report. How pet-friendly is your city?

Mountain Lion Spotted Prowling Peninsula Backyard: SEE

• Police shared home security footage of the animal.

SeaWorld San Diego Rescues Wounded Harbor Seal

• The seal was rescued from the La Jolla Children's Pool after being found with a gill net embedded in its neck.

Second Baby Bobcat Rescued In San Anselmo

• Officials at WildCare believe the male bobcat is related to a female cub found a few houses down about two weeks ago.

Shelter Dogs Displaced By Holy Fire Arrive In San Diego County

• The first of the dogs – now named Ash, Ember, Flame, Smokey, Kona, Hook and Ladder – will be available for adoption starting Thursday.

Utah Firefighter Adopts Dog He Rescued From California Blaze

• After rescuing a German Shepherd from the largest wildfire in California history, a Utah firefighter is bringing him home.

Watch: Rattlesnakes Duke It Out For Love In California Mountains

• The snakes were seen in Cheeseboro Canyon, wrestling to prove their strength and dominance.

Watch Redondo Police K9 Take Down Vicious Jack-In-The-Box Toy

• Ammo, a Redondo Beach police K9 team member, showed off his take down tactics in a sweet video.

Bonus bugs...

Deadly Kissing Bugs, Chagas Disease In CA: 5 Things To Know

• “Kissing bugs” can be deadly — or they may just be so itchy you have to slather your body with calamine lotion and wrap yourself in gauze.

Eww! 'Aggressive' Toe-Biting Bugs Found In Santa Monica Mountains

• These little buggers have been known to play dead, & when startled, can "emit a smelly fluid from their anus," a National Park Ranger said.

Tarantula Season Creeps Up Earlier Than Usual In SoCal

• The furry spiders normally start to make an appearance once temperatures cool off, usually around October.

Also see: Pup Gets Purple Heart; Whales Play With Dolphins: All in Calif.

Photo credit (top): San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Photos credit (bottom L-R): Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo; Lindsay Wildlife Experience; Sarah van Schagen/The Marine Mammal Center