
3 min learnNew DelhiFeb 22, 2026 11:59 AM IST
If you happen to’ve questioned whether or not you’re a good mum or dad or not, right here’s a breather. You don’t kick off or peck infants. Sounds absurd, proper? Not for a couple of animal species that may do that readily. Parenting in nature ranges from dedicated to downright lethal. Some species abandon, neglect, and even kill their very own offspring to maximise survival. From freeloading cuckoos to fatalistic pandas and ruthless meerkats, listed here are the six animals for whom elevating younger isn’t all the time about love and safety.
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1. Cuckoo Birds
Cuckoo birds are the final word brood parasites– the females lay eggs in different birds’ nests and simply vanish. The cuckoo chick hatches first, evicting host eggs with its again and monopolising all of the meals. Hosts find yourself feeding the impostor, typically concentrating on over 100 species—all with no shred of post-laying care.
Cuckoo birds abandon their eggs in different’s nests (Picture: Pexels)
2. Big Pandas
Moms typically give delivery to twins however instantly abandon the weaker cub, nursing solely the stronger one as a result of restricted milk provide. Rejected cubs can starve inside hours. Nonetheless, zookeepers sometimes swap them to avoid wasting lives. In the meantime, male pandas play no function in parenting in any way.
3. Sand Tiger Sharks
Throughout the mom, embryos hatch, and the most important consumes its siblings and the remaining eggs—normally leaving solely two pups. The mom does nothing to intervene, delivering ready-to-swim survivors solely each two years. Intrauterine cannibalism at its most interesting?
4. Meerkats
Alpha females remove subordinates’ pups to make sure that their very own litter dominates group nursing. The victims’ moms lose all offspring, whereas surviving pups typically nurse the alpha’s younger to “earn” group acceptance. Infanticide secures alpha management.

5. Nazca Boobies
First-hatched chicks typically push or peck youthful siblings to demise (obligate siblicide). Mother and father watch, typically aiding the method by stamping the runt. In harsh seabird colonies, it ensures that the surviving chick has entry to the utmost assets.
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6. Brown Antechinus
Males mate intensively for 3 weeks after which die from cortisol overload, leaving no paternal care. Females rear 8–10 pouch joeys alone, however roughly 90% of joeys die. A textbook instance of semelparity: reproduce as soon as, then perish.






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