What animals kill their own babies?

Indeed, mother bears, felines, canids, primates, and many species of rodents—from rats to prairie dogs—have all been seen killing and eating their young. Insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds also have been implicated in killing, and sometimes devouring, the young of their own kind.

What animals commit infanticide?

Infanticide is rare in solitary or monogamous mammal species. Infanticide was found to be widespread, occurring in rodents including mice and squirrels, carnivores including lions and bears as well as in hippos, horses and even the white-throated round-eared bat.

Why some mammals kill babies of their own kind?

In what may seem like a cruel act in nature, males of certain mammal species are sometimes driven to kill babies of their own species. The main culprit, biologists think, is the species’ social structure and reproductive strategy. The newborns could be seen as exploiting or competing for resources.

What animals eat their siblings?

While sharks may not be the most snuggly animals to begin with, the sand tiger shark sets a new precedent for fratricide. This species practices a form of sibling-killing called intrauterine cannibalization.

Why do giraffes reject their babies?

Sometimes in the wild, giraffes will reject their young if they’re not healthy. The mother’s sense of self-protection is stronger than her maternal instinct. Because giraffes are prey [to lions and hyenas], a sick calf will hinder their chances of escaping attack, so they abandon it to die.

Why do gorillas commit infanticide?

When resources are limited, infants are easier to eliminate from the competition pool than other group members because they are the most defenseless and thus become targets of infanticide. Primate infanticide motivated by resource competition can also involve cannibalizing the infant as a source of nutrition.

Can you train hippos?

Hippopotamuses are extremely dangerous, and are known to kill a large number of humans every year which is why most attempts to domesticate them failed. To domesticate an animal, it needs to be selectively bred, which needs to go on for 12 generations, which then makes it different from its ancestors in the wilderness.

Are hippos cannibals?

Though it’s rare, animals will eat their own kind when resources are scarce. There’s a new meaning to hungry, hungry hippos: Scientists have documented one of the first instances of cannibalism in the hippopotamus.