A parent’s love for their child knows no boundaries, and this is true both of us and of our animal friends. In these heartwarming photos of animal parenting, you’ll recognize many of the same tender and stressful childhood moments that you may have also experienced as a parent or a child.
Ecologists tend to separate animals into two groups based on their parenting – the r and K categories. The K category includes animals like elephants, cats, and us – animals that have relatively few offspring with longer gestational periods. Their fewer offspring require more focused care, and for a longer time – the sort of parenting we’re used to. Parents from the r category go for quantity over quality, with many offspring that grow quickly and individually have small chances of survival.
Image credits: Anton Belovodchenko
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Image credits: Jeanette DiAnda
Image credits: Igor Shpilenok
Image credits: Ric Seet
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Image credits: Marco Mattiussi
Image credits: Jan Pelcman
Image credits: Laurie Rubin
Image credits: Michael Milicia
Image credits: Chuck Babbitt
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Image credits: Tin Man
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Image credits: Wolfgang von Vietinghoff
Image credits: Udayan Rao Pawar
Image credits: Daniel Münger
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Image credits: Andre Pretorius
Image credits: Frederique Olivier/John Downer Productions
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Image credits: Jim Ridley
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Image credits: Michael Nichols
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Image credits: Edwin Kats