Animal Parents Complete the Le

Animal Parents

Complete the Lesson in FIAR Volume II on page 100 (Animal Parenting)
Discuss how your parents take care of you. Discuss how Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were good parents to their ducklings. Discuss some of these other animals that care for their young.

Elephants- baby is a calf
1. after the calf is born, the mother helps the calf stand
2. the baby drinks the mother’s milk
3. the baby stays with the mother by holding the mother’s tail with her trunk (much like how humans hold hands)
4. the mother also serves as shade from the hot sun, shares food with the baby, and gives her calf baths by washing it down (squirting water on the calf and scrubbing it with her trunk)
4. Elephant mothers are devoted to their offspring forming a bond that can last for 50 years!

Alligator – baby is a hatchling
How alligators care for their young
Note: most reptiles don’t care for their young—alligators (and crocs) are an exception
1. mothers are attentive to their offspring before birth (and long after); builds a nest and then listens for the alligators to make a high-pitched noise from inside the egg. When the mother hears this noise, she knows it is time to remove the nesting material.
2. Upon hatching, the mother uses her jaws and tenderly collects her babies and carries them to the water’s edge to give them a bath (wash the sand from them)
3. they do whatever they can to protect their babies from harm in the first few years of the hatchling’s life

Polar Bear- baby is a cub
1. during the first few weeks of life, polar bear cubs nurse most of the time
2. the mother keeps the cubs close to her to keep them warm
3. when the cubs are ready, the mother leads them to sea ice; travel is slow with frequent breaks to rest and nurse; a mother carries her cubs on her back when there is deep snow or water
4. mother polar bears are extremely protective of their young and willing to risk their own lives for the sake of their cubs
5. the mother usually nurses for 30 months at which time the cubs are set out on their own

Whale- baby is a calf
The mother whale
1. gently pushes her baby to the surface of the water for fresh air
2. keeps her baby near her as she swims along in the water
3. squirts milk into the calf’s mouth
4. protects from harm
5. keeps her calf with her for a year
Note: Dolphin care is very similar

Opossums- Joey
1. Moms have a fur-lined pouch on the stomach; they carry the joeys around in this warm, cozy pouch until they can fend for themselves.
2. The young live and drink milk in the pouch for about 2 months.
Note: Kangaroo care is very similar

Penguins- baby is a chick
After the mom lays the egg, she goes off to sea. The male keeps the egg warm on his feet enveloped by the stomach for 72 days (during the coldest part of the Antarctic year). During the time he takes care of the chick, he loses half his body weight!

Snow Owl—baby is an owlet
1. The mother and father feed, protect, and bring up the babies until their offspring are ready to fly away and hunt on their own.
2. Snow owls will aggressively attack intruders up to about one mile from the nest site; males sometimes defend their young using a "crippled bird" act to lure predators away from nests.
3. The young require an entire summer's worth of special care by the owl parents.

Gorilla- baby is an infant
1. Mothers keep infants in (almost) constant contact for the first six months of life (in the beginning they are clutched belly-to-belly)
2. They nurse for 2.5-3 years
3. At about sixteen weeks, the gorilla begins riding on its mother’s back

Baboon- baby is also an infant
1. Baboon parents tend to newborn infants around the clock
2. Babies cling to their mothers
3. Babies snuggle in their mother’s lap for naps in the sun
4. Mothers fuss over and groom their young
(just a side note: the infants throw tantrums when their mothers wean them!)

Trumpeter Swan- baby is a cygnet
1. Both mom and dad help build a nest that is surrounded by water
2. The mother alone sits atop the nest; if she has to leave to feed, bathe, or preen, she covers her eggs with nest material.
3. The father guards the nest—chasing away any intruders
4. Both parents care for the young for 3-4 months

Tilapia Fish- baby is a fry
Note: Most fish do not care for their young in this way, but this was interesting and unique!
1. Tilapia lay their eggs and keep them in their mouths for safekeeping.
2. After the eggs hatch, the fry swim about freely, but stay close to their parents.
3. If danger approaches, the fry dart into their parents’ mouths to hide!