Animal parents care for babies — Biology, 4–6 years
Many young animals need help before they can feed, hide or move on their own. Their parents may protect them, keep them warm, carry food or teach them important actions.
Care helps a baby survive
A baby animal is often small and not yet ready to do everything alone. A parent may shelter it, clean it, keep it warm, bring food or guard it. As the baby gets stronger, it can do more for itself, and the kind of help may change.
Why is help needed?
A very young animal may not have the strength, skills or body covering it needs. Without help, cold, hunger or danger could reach it quickly. Caring for a baby solves this problem for a while, giving it time to grow and practise until it can manage more by itself.
A blackbird feeds its chick
1. A hungry blackbird chick opens its beak in the nest. 2. An adult blackbird brings a small worm. 3. The chick swallows the food while staying in the nest. 4. The adult flies away to look for more. One short visit gives the chick food, but the chick still needs many visits before it can feed itself.
The trap: every baby has the same care
It is reasonable to expect all animal babies to be cared for in the same way, because human babies often need similar kinds of help. But a duckling may follow its mother soon after hatching, while a kitten needs milk and shelter for longer. Different bodies and homes bring different kinds of care.
Care in the world around us
You may see a bird carrying food, ducklings following an adult or a fox guarding its cubs. At home, people care for young animals by providing safe shelter, suitable food and clean water. Observe from a distance: a parent may be protecting its baby, and touching it can cause harm.
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