![]() Back in 2018, a Southern resident killer whale named J35 (Tahlequah) shocked the entire world by mourning for her dead calf and carrying its body for 17 days and over 1,600 km. These intelligent creatures have been observed to show human-like behaviour before. They also pass down to the children the local dialects specific to their pods, while teaching them different strategies to stay at the top of their local food chain. In such tight-knit family groups, the female members babysit and feed the young, effectively boosting their chances of survival. Orca societies are also matriarchal in nature, and the offspring stay with their mothers and grandmothers for the entirety of their 60+ years of lifespan. Baby orcas depend exclusively on their mothers for milk for 1-2 years, and then for food until they learn how to hunt. This is because newborns don't sleep at all for the first month of their lives, and swim continuously to avoid predators and build important fat reserves and muscle. Due to the commitment and intensity with which they parent, orcas usually give birth to just one calf every five years.Īfter producing a baby following an 18-month-long pregnancy, the mother orca sacrifices all its sleep and rest for the next one month. OrcasĬommonly referred to as killer whales, orcas are actually a large species of dolphin that are also recognised as one of the most dedicated and important marine moms. So strong is the bond between the mother and her children, that the young ones-especially the female children-continue to visit their moms until they reach the age of 15 or 16, often to learn child-rearing skills themselves. ![]() And since these highly intelligent primates spend a majority of their lives high up in the trees, the mothers also build new nests every night using branches and foliage, creating more than 30,000 homes in their lifetimes! ![]() The young ones remain entirely dependent on their moms for both food and transportation during the first two years of their lives.Īs the males come around only to mate, the responsibility of passing down basic life lessons and survival skills falls entirely on the mother orangutans. Considered among the hardest working mothers in the animal kingdom, they care for and nurse their babies until they are 8 years of age-among the longest dependence periods of any animal on Earth.įor the first four months of this long period, the mothers carry their children on their bellies, not once breaking physical contact. Orangutans are the ultimate single moms out there. Talk about being a fascinating feeder! Giant Pacific OctopusĪn orangutan mother with her baby, pictured at England's Dudley Zoo in 2016. However, these fascinating beings can control when to give birth, as they possess the ability to freeze their embryo’s development and prevent new births until the previous baby has grown enough to leave the pouch.Īnd in cases where the mother kangaroo is simultaneously carrying two babies at different stages of development, the mom even produces two different types of milk at once to ensure each baby gets the nutrients it needs at that time. As these babies are born at a very early stage of development-just 36 days after conception-they continue to occupy their mother’s pouch for the next nine months for further gestation and feeding.ĭue to the short fetal development period, female kangaroos can get pregnant in quick succession in fact, they tend to be pregnant almost permanently. Grey kangaroo moms give birth to just one baby at a time. Grey kangaroos, which roam the forests of Australia and Tasmania, are among the most multitasking mothers you will find out in the wild. To celebrate the occasion of Mother’s Day, we take a look at five such mighty mothers from the animal kingdom: Elephants Just like their human counterparts, moms among several animal species too do whatever it takes to protect and nurture their young ones.īut even among these animal mothers, there exist some super-moms that stand out due to the unbelievable maternal care they shower. Surprisingly-or perhaps not so surprisingly-the sheer love, compassion and commitment commonly seen among mothers from all parts of the world can also be observed in other, non-human species, particularly in the animal kingdom. While the importance of mothers is seen and realised each and every day, this event nevertheless serves as a reminder to acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices and tireless contributions made by all mothers. Every year, on the second Sunday of May, the world comes together to celebrate Mother’s Day-an annual, global observance to honour all mothers and the motherly bonds within the family.
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