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Longtime Bored Panda readers would know the therapeutic, soul-soothing effects of animal photos. Seeing these adorable snapshots of pets in their element can quickly put a fat grin on your face.

Here’s another serving of wholesomeness for you, courtesy of the Wholesome Animal Images Facebook page. We’ve picked out some of the best pictures to give you belly laughs and warm fuzzies at the same time. 

If you’re having a rough day, hopefully, this list can help turn it around. Enjoy scrolling!

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    Looking at adorable animals immediately gives a calming effect. According to science, these images do help in reducing stress and anxiety by up to 50%. 

    In late 2019, the University of Leeds conducted a study in which 19 people watched a montage of photos and clips of cute animals. The results indicated a drop in blood pressure in the participants, who were due to take an exam 90 minutes after the research. The focus groups described their session as “relaxing” and “enjoyable.”

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    Dr. Andrea Utley, who headed the research, shared more data with CNN, revealing that participants’ blood pressure dropped from 136/88 to 117/71. For context, the standard and healthy range is 120/80. The average heart rate also fell to 67.4 bpm, a 6.5% reduction. The resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 bpm. 

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    Studies from around the world show similar results. In 2015, Hiroshima University in Japan conducted research that revealed how adorable pictures of baby animals can help improve attention and concentration.

    Specifically, humans naturally respond to these younglings' “baby schema” characteristics, such as their large heads and high, protruding foreheads.

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    Associate Professor Hiroshi Nittono led the study involving three experiments and 132 participants. He concluded that these cute images could help improve performance on detail-oriented tasks. 

    “This study shows that viewing cute things improves subsequent performance in tasks that require behavioral carefulness, possibly by narrowing the breadth of attentional focus,” Nittono wrote.

    Researchers have suggested that caregivers' improved attention to detail may be due to their close attention to their babies, including their vigilance against potential threats. 

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    “Perceiving cuteness exerts immediate effects on cognition and behavior in a wider context than that related to caregiving or social interaction,” Nittono and his team wrote.

    #18

    A tabby kitten being petted, capturing a wholesome animal moment.

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    Eric G
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The look that says, "I wake you hooman, not the other way around. Guess who's going to run around hollering at 2:00 a.m. tonight?"

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    #23

    Sleeping hunter in an orange cap with rifle in woods, while a deer peeks curiously behind him. Wholesome animal encounter.

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    B Hobbs
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The camera loudly clicks, hunter jerks awake, fires rifle, shoots hat off photographer, deer prances away.

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    #35

    Woman and cat relaxing on a bed, with a book open and a TV in the background. Wholesome animal moment.

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    Tabitha
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yiu know what they say about parents and kids. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

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    #45

    Cat and dog curiously looking at a half-eaten watermelon on a table, capturing a wholesome animal moment.

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    Tabitha
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cat: This is mine, go get your own. Dog: I just want to see if you can actually eat that whole watermelon.

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    #48

    Silhouette of a horse seen through a window, creating a unique cityscape with wholesome animal charm.

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    Bonesko
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm allergic to dogs and horses and was talking about it at work a couple of weeks ago and said 'being allergic to horses isn't really a big deal because I've never walked into someone's house and thought oh c**p they have a horse!' I was apparently mistaken.

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    #50

    Fluffy cat sitting near open fridge with cucumbers on the floor, wholesome animal scene.

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    Damned_Cat
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a Pallas Cat, a very aggressive wild animal, and he's about to tell you what you can do with your cucumbers.

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    #58

    Cat dressed as a superhero, wearing a black mask and cape, looking adorable and wholesome.

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    Nikki Gross
    Community Member
    3 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    CATMAN is waiting for Bones and his team, to stage another heist and rob the pet food store to steal all of the the Catnip.

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