FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL:GREAT DADS IN ANIMAL KINGDOM

(The Quiver Bureau) :A father to his children is not less than a blessing. He is ready for countless sacrifices for the happiness and safety of his children. The whole world is observing Father’s Day Today.We all love our fathers isn’t it? Our fathers also love us ? But have you ever wondered about animal fathers? Are the animal fathers caring and protective for their kids? Lets find out. The best fathers in the Animal Kingdom.

Emperor penguin

Emperor penguin dads are some of the most dedicated animal fathers . By the time the female lays her egg, she’s expended so much energy that her nutritional reserves become exhausted, and she must set out to sea for two months to feed. During that time, the dad takes on the role of single father and keeps the egg warm by ever so carefully balancing the egg between the top of his toes and his belly. He takes his responsibility seriously and doesn’t eat or even move during the entire two months, for if the egg is exposed to the harsh Antarctic cold and wind, the chick won’t survive. If the chick hatches before mom is back, dad will feed the chick with milk he produces from his esophagus.

Seahorse

Male seahorses are considered as one of the best fathers in animal kingdom.They are one of the only species in the animal kingdom known for male pregnancy! That’s right, the moms deposit their eggs into the male seahorse’s pouch, then he fertilizes and incubates them for 45 days until they are born as full-on tiny seahorses. Seahorse dads may not experience morning sickness, but they do have to endure contractions as they go through labor.

Frog and toad

Collectively, most frog and toad species have some pretty dedicated dads. Some male frogs keep their tadpoles in their mouths until the tadpoles are able to make it on their own. Other amphibian fathers, such as the midwife toad, implant their spawn underneath their skin, usually on their backs of their legs. One type of frog, aptly called the pouched frog, carries their offspring in a pouch on their belly while they develop, much like kangaroos or possums do.

Greater Flamingo

Not only Male flamingos are all are loyal partners but are also the best fathers . Even while congregating in a flock of thousands of birds, these birds remain monogamous . Flamingo dads wholeheartedly believe in gender equality, which is rare in the animal kingdom. When it comes time to mate, dad helps mom select a nesting site, and together they construct the nest out of mud. Once she lays her egg, the father shares in the responsibility of incubating the egg, as they take turns sitting on the nest for equal amounts of time. Once the hatchling is born, mom and dad share all parenting duties equally.

Golden Lion Tamarin

By two weeks old, the Golden Lion Tamarin infants are carried on their father’s back nearly 24/7. Dad hands them over to their mother one at a time every two to three hours, then she nurses the baby for around 15 minutes and hands it back to its father. The infants will ride on the father’s back until they are six to seven weeks old. At four weeks, the babies begin to eat soft food, and it’s the father’s job to peel and mash bananas and hand-feed them to his offspring.

African Wild Dog

Just like the puppies of domesticated dogs, African wild dog pups are extremely active and expend quite a few calories throughout the day. Since the pups are unable to eat solid foods until they are about ten weeks old, their father swallow their food and then regurgitate the softer version for the pups to eat, making sure they get enough nourishment. This feeding practice serves another purpose, too—since the pups have to rely on their fathers for food, it stops them from wandering too far away from home, so they don’t fall prey to enemies.

 Red Fox

Male red foxes are doting and indulgent dads, and they enjoy playing and roughhousing with their pups, as most dads do. While the pups are young, the father hunts every day, providing a food delivery service to the den for the cubs and their mother. After about three months, though, the cubs experience a rude awakening: no more free food! The father stops feeding them as a tactic to get the pups to leave the den. But he doesn’t become very strict, he buries food close to the den to help teach them how to sniff and forage for food.

Gorilla

A typical gorilla father is in charge of a clan as large as 30 gorillas. He is responsible for finding food for his group, which is a big job seeing as gorillas typically eat up to 50 pounds of food per day! A gorilla dad is also very attentive, fending off threats by fiercely beating his chest and charging enemies. He often has to fight off other male gorillas who are known to kill baby gorillas when trying to take over the group. He spends a good deal of time with the young ones until they become teenagers, playing lovingly with his offspring and settling any arguments that arise between siblings. 

Lion

The male lion sometimes is a bad father when it comes to parenting. He is known for lounging in the shade while his lioness risks her life hunting all day long. Hunting is no easy task for her considering male lions eats about 65 pounds of meat per day! What’s worse, when mom brings in a kill, dad always gets dibs on the first juicy cut before mom and the kids get to eat. However, when his pride is in danger, the male lion really steps up and becomes ferociously protective of his pride, which can consist of 30 or more lionesses and cubs. When he senses a threat, his fatherly intuition kicks in and he does anything and everything to ensure the safety of his family.