2009 was a real up-and-down year for the National Zoo. Aside from the massive, inevitable loss of our beloved Butterstick, 2009 also saw the Zoo lose an elderly sloth bear, two rare oryx, and Amazonian fish. Even Happy the Hippo hit the road with nary a goodbye.

But it was also a damn fine year for new furballs, waddlers, and such squee-worthy additions. For example: Aww. AWW. AWWWWW. Ahem. Aww.

Here’s hoping that 2010 is a similarly fruitful year, one which will go a long way toward helping fill the soon-to-come hole in our panda-obsessed lives. Until that time comes, though, why not enjoy the kids we’ve currently got? Carly & Art sure did, contributing the above photograph of a young Prehensile-tailed porcupine, who was born in August, being hand-fed. Don’t let the white-tipped spikes fool you — these porcupines are actually born with very soft hair which hardens to quills as they age, so this fella’s cuddle-ability is still off the charts. He’ll even curl up into a ball for you.

So what was your favorite addition to the Zoo in ’09 — the giant anteater pup? The clouded leopard cubs? The baby elephant shrew? Let us know in the comments.