ADVERTISEMENT

A parent’s love for their child knows no boundaries, and this is true both of us and of our animal friends. In these heartwarming photos of animal parenting, you’ll recognize many of the same tender and stressful childhood moments that you may have also experienced as a parent or a child.

Ecologists tend to separate animals into two groups based on their parenting – the r and K categories. The K category includes animals like elephants, cats, and us – animals that have relatively few offspring with longer gestational periods. Their fewer offspring require more focused care, and for a longer time – the sort of parenting we’re used to. Parents from the r category go for quantity over quality, with many offspring that grow quickly and individually have small chances of survival.

RELATED:

    Image credits: Anton Belovodchenko

    Image credits: dailymail.co.uk

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Jeanette DiAnda

    Image credits: Igor Shpilenok

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Ric Seet

    Image credits: pensivesquirrel.wordpress.com

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Marco Mattiussi

    Image credits: Jan Pelcman

    Image credits: Laurie Rubin

    Image credits: Michael Milicia

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Chuck Babbitt

    Image credits: hqwide.com

    Image credits: Tin Man

    Image credits: dailymail.co.uk

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Wolfgang von Vietinghoff

    Image credits: Udayan Rao Pawar

    Image credits: Daniel Münger

    Image credits: dailymail.co.uk

    Image credits: Andre Pretorius

    Image credits: Frederique Olivier/John Downer Productions

    Image credits: imgur.com

    Image credits: Jim Ridley

    Image credits: Michael Nichols

    Image credits: Edwin Kats