Humans seem to be the creatures on this planet with the strongest relationship to their children. After all, we care and nurture them for the first 18 years of their lives! But we don’t usually imagine other animals to be quite as caring for their children.
Believe it or not, some animals can make great moms though! Here are seven other creatures that are extremely dedicated to their young.
#1 – Orangutans
Like most primates, orangutans have shockingly similar behaviors to humans. They have opposable thumbs, human-like bodies, and even advanced facial expressions. But in addition to that, orangutan moms are one of the animals in nature with the closest bond to their young.
Baby orangutans rely entirely on their mom for the first two years of their lives, turning to their mothers for food and transportation. Then, the moms stay with their children for six to seven years to teach them how to survive on their own, much like how human families work. Another human-like fact is that orangutans continue to visit their mothers even when they reach 15 or 16 years old. Most orangutans live for 35 to 45 years.
#2 – Polar Bears
Polar bears look cute and cuddly, and as it turns out, they’re also very nurturing parents. Most mother polar bears give birth to two fuzzy babies, and those cubs stick by her side for at least two years. During that time, the mom teaches them the skills they need to survive in the frigid climate. Polar bear moms are also known to risk their lives for their babies, which is a big reason why the species is vulnerable.
Pregnant polar bears dig a den in snow drifts to keep the babies sheltered from the blustering winds. When they’re born, the mom uses her body heat and milk to keep them warm as they adjust to this new life. Most cubs are born in the winter months, so when spring rolls around, the mom takes the cubs out of the den to teach them how to hunt. Polar bears are great at preparing their young for the world around them.
#3 – Elephants
Big creatures like elephants might not look like they’d make comforting mothers, but they are incredibly nurturing. In fact, elephants usually live in groups of multiple females, so they can work together to raise the babies. Baby elephants stay with their mothers for about 16 years, which is incredibly close to human babies. Most elephant species live between 48 and 70 years.
When baby elephants are born, the female elephants work together to lift them to their feet. They will work together to protect the babies and teach them how to survive. The calves watch the adult animals to learn how to find plants and reach them. The mothers also set a slower pace when walking so the younger elephants can keep up.
#4 – Penguins
Most species of penguins are great parents, especially emperor penguins. Penguins have a more unique parenting style from other animals because the dads are the nurturing ones this time. After laying an egg, mother penguins leave the egg with the father. Then, the mother leaves for two months to gather fish and squid for her family.
When the mother returns to her mate, she meets her newly hatched baby, still being nurtured by the father. She regurgitates the food for the chick, and then the male goes out to make the same journey while the female then comforts the baby. It’s the perfect example of teamwork, where the chick always has someone to look after them.
#5 – Cheetahs
Cheetah moms constantly move around for the sake of their children, and they manage it all on their own! Most cheetahs have between two and eight cubs at a time, and they do everything they can to keep them away from predators. Cheetah families move to new locations every few days to keep the babies safe from dangerous animals, such as lions and hyenas.
Baby cheetahs usually nurse for about eight months, and then their mom goes on to teach them the key to survival. Their mom gives them lessons on how to stalk and hunt, and the babies practice with their siblings. Cheetahs have been known to take in orphan cubs during this time too. Most cheetahs train with their mom for 18 months before going out on their own. The siblings often travel together as a group for at least 6 more months after that.
#6 – Giraffes
Giraffe moms have hard work right from the start. They carry their babies for 15 months, and then give birth to a giraffe that’s already about 100 pounds and 6 feet tall! Like most babies, giraffes are clumsy at first, but the mother is very encouraging from the start. The mother giraffe helps her baby walk in only a half hour or less. We could all use that type of support in our families!
Baby giraffes behave a lot like human babies because they become very attached to their mom. They follow their mom around and patiently wait for her when she leaves. The mothers lose a lot of sleep at first because they stay awake for most of the night to guard their baby. They usually only get a few minutes of sleep at a time, but the babies eventually learn to survive on their own at 15 months old. Then, the moms finally get some well-deserved peace and quiet.
#7 – Seals
Many seal species thrive as parents, despite looking so young and adorable themselves. Weddell seals are especially dedicated because the moms take on a lot of responsibilities when raising their babies, and they do it all on their own. These seals go through an 11-month pregnancy, and as soon as they give birth, the mothers need to rush to prepare the babies for the real world as quickly as possible.
The Antarctic is a dangerous place for young animals, so at only two weeks old, the mother needs to teach her pup how to swim safely in the water. Baby seals need to learn things like how to navigate underwater and how to find air holes to breathe. Most Weddell seals raise a new baby every year. So, even though they don’t spend as much time with their young, they’re incredibly dedicated to keeping them safe. Many sea lions are also just as dedicated.
Animals might not raise their young for 18 years and save up for their college, but they certainly do a lot of other dedicated things. They protect their babies and teach them how to survive in the wild. Every creature has a different way of caring for their children, but many of them are just as committed as humans are.