Five of the Most Dedicated African Animal Dads
From Lion World Travel, we wish a very Happy Father's Day to all dads out there!
In honor of this special occasion, we're highlighting five fabulous fathers who are some of the most dutiful dads in the African animal kingdom.
Flamingo
Flamingo Mates
Flamingos are all about equality. Male flamingos are monogamous, mating with one female for life. When it comes time to mating, a male flamingo will help find a nesting site and with his female partner, they will construct the nest out of mud. When an egg is laid, mom and dad take turns incubating the egg and when the egg hatches, parental duties are shared equally by the parents.
Gorilla
Silverback Gorilla
Gorilla dads often lead groups of up to 30 female gorillas and their young. As the leader of the group, the dad gorilla is responsible for finding food for his family. He keeps the clan safe by pounding his chest and fending off enemies. Fathers also spend a lot of time with their young before they become teenagers, often playing, grooming and welcoming them into their nest to keep them warm and safe.
Wild Dogs
Wild Dog
African wild dog pups are unable to eat proper solids until they are about 10 weeks old. Dogs hunt in packs and after a catch, dads will regurgitate the food they eat to feed their young. Not only does this act help feed their pups, but it also helps keep them close to home where they can be better supervised and protected from predators.
Lion
Lion Cub
Male lions are typically known for lazing in the shade and getting first dibs when the lionesses make a kill, but they aren’t all that bad. The main role of a male lion is to protect his pride and their territory. When his pride is in danger, the male lion will aggressively fight competing prides and predators to protect his family.
Ostrich
Ostrich
These flightless African birds are great fathers. A male and female ostrich will share the parental responsibilities with each taking turns incubating eggs in a nest created by the male. Other female ostriches will lay eggs in the same nest, potentially from different males, but the guardian male will guard the nest of what is his and other male’s offspring. The guardian male aggressively guards the babies and will charge at any animal, even another female.