Parenthood
Parenting in nature has always fascinated me. The instinct to nurture is deeply rooted in nearly every species in the wild, manifesting in countless forms and variations. It is remarkable to see how the care of offspring unfolds without prior instruction—every creature seems to know exactly what to do to preserve this wonder. Self-sacrifice, determination, and perseverance are woven into every example. What I find especially fascinating is how closely our own parenting mirrors that of so many species in nature. To me, it is truly inspirational.
A tired mom falling asleep
I can stand exactly like mom
I can do back to back
Sweet dreams
"Mom, I want to go..."
The most comfortable place in the world
Two cubs cuddling with each other
Mother bear nursing while standing
Nursing while seated (and falling asleep)
On guard and sleeping
Tired mom nursing
Sea lion
Lioness with four cubs, rare
A mother lioness with four cubs must carry her newborns across marshland to hide them from predators
Mother's love
Tail rest
Head nudge
Nursing Mum nursing four hungry cubs
A mother Grant's Gazelle runs for her life while her young one is hunted. Later, she whined for hours...
A young Wildebeest just born. Mom still has the placenta hanging from her
The very first meal...
Newborn Wildebeest's first steps
"Mom, it's hard to run in the water ..."
Angry mom
Spotted Hyena
"Time to clean"
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Vervet monkey nursing
Mother's comfort
Verreaux's Sifaka
"Mom, what is that?"
Milne-Edwards's Sifaka
Mother's treat
Gelada baboon
Nothing like a mother's ride
Best seat out there...
A very young Olive Baboon is taking advantage of his mom's creative support.
Safest with mom
Thomas Leaf Monkey
Two young Blue Monkey babies hiding behind their Mom
A very young baby still all white
Nursing break
Nepal Grey Langur
Orangutan mom nursing her young
A tired mom
Chimpanzee nursing her daughter
Giraffe's kiss
A mother’s gentle “kick” while nursing is enough…
Elephants kindergarden
"Mom, you're walking too fast ..."
"kiss please?"
A spider full of eggs
Dorca Gazelle
Nubian ibex
Nazca Booby making sure her eggs are gathered together and safe
A just hatched Booby chick in frenzy feeding
Magnificent Frigatebird returning to the nest
Rose-ringed Parakeet mom feeding her chick
Olive Flycatcher nesting
Little Egret feeding her chick
Protective mother
Red-tailed Tropicbird
A White-fronted Bee-eater mother demonstrates to her chick how to swallow a bee
Colonial parenting
Red-throated Bee-eater
Feeding in turns
Green Woodhoopoe
Brown-necked Raven approaching its nest where three young chicks are awaiting
A quick trio feeding
A surrogate Hooded Crow is coming to feed its adopted Great Spotted Cuckoo chick
Here it comes...
Deep down the throat
Eurasian Coot is gently feeding one of its young chicks