It’s Mother’s Day in North America this Sunday, and so in honour of the day and the wonderful women it celebrates, this post will be looking at incredible mothers from the Animal Kingdom!

(Comes with a small gift at the end!)

1. Brown Bears

Brown Bear Mothers are fiercely protective of their young and will defend them from any threats they face. The primary threat to a Brown Bear Cub comes from male Brown Bears, most of whom will try to kill cubs to bring their mothers back into estrous (the phase in which they are able to conceive offspring). Males are 30-50% bigger than females, but despite this massive disparity in size, a Brown Bear Mother will still take on a male if he is a threat to her young. We don’t say Mama Bear for nothing!

2. Lionesses

Much like Brown Bears, Lionesses are fierce defenders of their cubs, protecting them from various dangers, including Leopards, Hyenas, and other Lions. However, what makes Lioness Mothers unique is the social nature of their child-rearing. Females in a Pride will sync up their estrous cycles and then conceive and give birth at similar times. The cubs will then form a creche, and each mother will partake in raising them. They will protect each other’s cubs, feed them (allosuckling), and care for them. It really does take a village!

3. Spotted Hyenas

Considering their bad reputation, this might be surprising, but it’s true! Spotted Hyena mothers are fiercely loving and devoted to their cubs. They are amongst the most dedicated mothers of all land-based carnivores, tending and nurturing their cubs for up to 18 months. Even if they are injured in a fight with a lion, they will still tend to their cubs with the utmost dedication. That’s not to say, however, that their parenting is gentle. They are demanding parents teaching their cubs to fight and compete early to prepare them for the harshness of Hyena life.

4. Orcas

We’ve spoken a lot about land, so what about the ocean? Well, there’s no shortage of good mothers there either! Orcas (more commonly known as Killer Whales) are incredibly devoted mothers. After a gestation period of 18 months, they give birth to a single calf, which they nurse for 2 years. Once those 2 years are up, however, they don’t stop parenting but instead teach them the necessary social and practical skills they need to survive. What makes Orcas unique is that they, like humans, go through menopause! They may live up to 60 years past menopause and continue to be devoted mothers (and grandmothers) throughout that time.

5. Yellow-billed Hornbills

Yellow-billed Hornbill Mothers have no easy start to motherhood. They nest in tree cavities and seal themselves in using mud, droppings, and food pulp. They leave a tiny slit through which their partner can give them food and molt all their feathers so they can’t leave the tree. This means they are totally defenseless should their partner die or defect. A truly intense show of trust and love.

6. Elephants

These matriarchs are famously good mothers. They have a two-year gestation period and will then nurse their calves for up to 6 years, who will then stay with their mothers until around 9-18 years of age. The bond between mother and calf is a lifelong one, and though some calves may leave (typically the males), they do not forget their mothers and remain close to them well into adulthood.

7. Orangutans

Whilst this list is not exhaustive nor meant to show the ‘best’ animal mums out there, it would definitely be amiss not to include the animal that is largely considered one of the animal kingdom’s best mothers: The Orangutan! This dedicated mother nurtures her young for 7-10 years, ensuring that they have all the necessary knowledge to survive in their forest home. Even after their young are all grown up, Orangutans will still come back and visit, showing just how deep and complex their bond truly is.

And there you have it! 7 amazing animal mums to celebrate Mother’s Day because mothers are mothers, no matter the species.

I promised you a small gift at the end, so here it is! To help you celebrate this Sunday, I’ve put together 7 animal Mother’s Day Cards that you can customise and print out! Check them out below.

You can customise the designs in Canva or Adobe Express, add them to customisable card templates, and print them (or send them as an e-card)!