For moments like this?
Bask in the knowledge that there are some animal mothers out there who make even sh*tty parents look like saints. Here are three examples of bad animal mothers.
Aaaaaaah, silver linings, eh?
Sloths
Sloths are known for their slow and lazy nature, but they are also known for being bad mothers. Female sloths carry their offspring for the first few months of their lives, but after that, the baby is left to fend for itself. Sloth mothers don’t provide any further care or protection, making their young vulnerable to predators and other dangers. In fact, sloth babies are often killed by their mothers who mistake them for food when they become hungry! What the heck???
Hamsters
Hamsters may be cute and cuddly, but their maternal instincts are not the best. Female hamsters are known for being aggressive towards their young, sometimes leading to their death. This behavior is thought to be related to the high levels of stress that hamsters experience when they’re caring for their babies. In the wild, hamsters live in burrows with multiple chambers, moving their babies from one chamber to another to keep them safe. However, in captivity, hamsters are often kept in small cages, leading to high levels of stress and aggression.
Polar Bears
Polar bears are often seen as symbols of motherhood, but they are not always the best mothers. Female polar bears give birth to one or two cubs at a time and spend the first few months nursing and caring for them. However, after that, things can become dangerous for their cubs. Polar bear mothers are known for their fierce protectiveness of their cubs, but they have also been known to abandon their offspring if they become sick or weak. In some cases, polar bear mothers have even been known to kill and eat their own cubs.
While it’s easy to judge these bad animal mothers by our human standards, we must remember that they have evolved to survive in their unique environments. Sloths, for instance, live in trees where their young are relatively safe from predators, so they do not need to provide as much care and protection as other animals. Hamsters, on the other hand, are prey animals, so they must be constantly on guard to protect their young from danger. Polar bears live in one of the harshest environments on Earth, where resources are scarce, and survival is difficult.
As human parents, we have the advantage of social support and cultural norms that help us navigate the challenges of raising children. We also have the ability to reflect on our parenting skills and make adjustments as needed. Although we may not be perfect, we can take comfort in knowing that we are doing our best with the resources available to us. So… next time you feel bad about your parenting skills, remember that there are some animal mothers out there who really suck.