Every parent knows that raising kids is a tough job. Most children stay at home until they are at least 18 years old, if not older, and their upkeep is usually expensive.
There are some animal mothers who deeply care about their youngsters, giving up not just time but often their own food supplies – and in some cases even their own flesh – in order to ensure that their child survives, and that their genes make it safely to the next generation.
But what about the careless mother’s who don’t give a flying doodle about their offspring Today, we countdown 15 worst animal parents in the world. It’s time to change those diapers and get with it!
Rabbits Rabbits are small mammals with fluffy, short tails, whiskers and distinctive long ears.
There are more than 30 species around the world, and while they live in many different environments, they have many things in common.
Some rabbits are about the size of a cat, and some can grow to be as big as a small child. Small rabbits, such as pygmy rabbits, can be as little as 8 inches in length and weigh less than a pound.
Larger species grow to 20 inches and more than 10 lbs. It’s no surprise that rabbits have a bit of a reputation when it comes to breeding.
After all, they can have to up to 16 kits in one litter and can be impregnated again within hours of giving birth! Mother rabbits will leave their babies alone almost instantly, often only stopping by the burrow to check on them once a day.
While this behavior may stink of abandonment, there is actual method in mother rabbit’s madness.
By staying away from the burrow, she is also keeping potential predators away from her young – constant visits to her kits would only draw attention to their location and put them in harm’s way.
Darwin Frogs Darwin’s frog is amphibian named after Charles Darwin, who discovered this species. This unusual animal lives in the South America.
Darwin’s frog inhabits forests, glades and areas near slow flowing rivers and streams.
Darwin’s frog is small animal that can reach 0.9 to 1.4 inches in length and 0.07 to 0.17 ounces of weight.
Baby Darwin Frogs, an endangered species of tiny frog found in South America, may have terrible mothers to contend with, but at least their dad sticks around to take care of them. After breeding, the females lay about 40 eggs, and that’s it, their job is done.
After that, all the work is done by the male, who then guards the eggs for up to three weeks until they start to move.
At that point, he will swallow about 15 of the eggs, keeping them even safer until they hatch into tadpoles, and then develop to become froglets. At that point, dad simply coughs up his kids, and off they go.
