The Worst Animal Dads
In the animal kingdom, some species exhibit incredible parenting skills, while others are remarkably poor fathers. Here are some prime examples:
Lions
Male lions often exhibit the worst fatherly behavior, especially when a new male takes over as the pride leader. After seizing power, the new male lion will kill all the cubs of the previous leader. While the lioness takes on the role of hunting and caring for the cubs, the male lion spends most of his time lying in the shade, waiting for the lioness to bring food. He is the first to eat from the kill and typically leaves only scraps for the rest of the pride, including his own offspring. In harsh conditions, the dominant male may even allow his mate and cubs to starve before him.
North American Grizzly Bears
North American grizzly bear males are known for their exceptionally poor parenting behavior. They have a high territorial instinct, protecting an area up to 2,400 square kilometers, and are opportunistic hunters, ready to kill and eat anything that enters their territory, including their own young. This means that the mother bear not only has to provide food and teach the cubs to fend for themselves but also has to ensure the cubs never stray into the father’s territory.
Bass Fish
Even species with protective instincts, such as male Bass Fish, can exhibit cannibalistic behavior. This occurs when most of the young have dispersed and only a few remain. The male Bass Fish suddenly stops protecting the young from predators and devours all the slow-moving young Bass Fish as a reward for itself after ensuring that the stronger ones survive.
Sand Gobies
Similarly, male sand gobies continually guard the eggs from predators, but even when there is plenty of food available, they still consume about one-third of the offspring. Studies reveal that male sand gobies decide which eggs to keep or eat based on their size. Male sand gobies tend to eat the largest eggs, as they require the longest incubation time. By consuming the largest eggs, the male can return to mating as quickly as possible.
Assassin Bugs
Assassin bug fathers are tasked with protecting the eggs until they hatch. Their strategy involves eating the eggs on the outer edges of the clutch, which are most likely to become victims of parasitic wasps. This self-defense tactic is so effective that the assassin bugs can completely avoid any potential parasites in the lab. Scientists believe that eating the eggs is not only the only way to protect against parasites but also provides essential nutrients for the male assassin bug when it cannot move to forage for food.
