Animals both domestic and wild can adopt and take care of a different species. It’s not so different from the way we humans take in a child regardless of race, color, or disability.
But where humans adopt because they want to love and nurture a child, animals… well it’s not that simple.
It is easy to see cats and dogs caring for their own, or baby whales swimming with mom, and even a pride of lions watching over a cub. But when species cross, something just clicks, and two totally different creatures suddenly forms a bond.
There was a dog who nursed a baby squirrel as if it was part of her litter. Then a mother hen actually adopted a litter of abandoned puppies.
How about a raccoon who adopted a tabby kitten?
There’s more. A pit bull adopted three baby turkeys, a group of sperm whales took care of a deformed baby bottlenose dolphin, and then there’s a cow that adopted a baby leopard.
And not a single one tried to eat the other.
According to isfoundation,
“Adoption is especially common among domestic animals because of the bond they develop when put together. It is also common for many animals to adopt orphaned youngsters of their own species, in order to care for and protect their inherent, instinctual need for species protection. This is known as Kin Selection. Animals take care of the young orphans of their own species in order to pass on family DNA. They have inherent genes that lead to altruistic behavior so as long as the behavior enhances survival and reproduction of the self-sacrificing animal’s close kin. This is especially true for orphaned animals taken in by a relative. Along with Kin Selection, another reason for adoption may be mutual benefit.”
People like to argue that animals have different levels of intelligence as well as the ability to feel and share emotions with others.
A cat decided to care for hedgehogs, even letting them drink her milk.
In a Russian zoo, one of its cats adopted a lynx cub. And the mother cat could care less about the future predator. All she wants is for the young cub to feel protected. Just like her own.
And that centuries old rivalry between dogs and cats?
Well just look at how the dog goes out of her way to take care of those kittens. It’s adorable and all until you realize the kittens’ mother is right there, walking around the house as if nothing’s wrong.
David the dog chose to be the guardian of this baby rhino.
Primates have also been known to watch over cats and chicks. You’d think that with their raw strength, they’d rip the smaller animals apart. But no, they actually find the time to care for these tiny creatures.
Baby armadillos found a furrever friend in a dog too!
There are so many examples of animals taking in other animals as one of their own and there is always an interesting backstory to them. And in most cases, we could learn a thing or two from them.
Hit play below for more of the cutest adoption stories!
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