May 22, 2024by Sasha Ella

Mothers in Nature

A Mother's Love

‘There is no difference between the worry of a human mother and an animal mother for their offspring. A mother’s love does not derive from the intellect but from the emotions, in animals just as in humans’ – Maimonides

Africa is a continent teeming with biodiversity, where every creature has a role to play within the ecosystem. Nature is a never-ending cycle of birth, growth, adaptation and interconnectivity ensuring the survival and continuity of myriad of species.

Every birth is a miracle, none more so than among Africa’s wildlife. The vast savannahs, dense forests and expansive wetlands are all backdrops for dramatic entries into the world.

Let’s take a look at the unusual births and mothering habits … the largest, tallest and king of all beasts. In virtually all species, mothers provide their offspring with nourishment, comfort and security as well as lessons on how to survive, especially in the wilderness.

Larger than life

An African elephant is not just the largest living land animal but it also has the longest gestation of any animal – nearly 22 months – before they give birth to a single calf. They also boast the biggest babies: A newborn weighs in at around 150 kilograms (230 pounds).

One of the most endearing sights is the birth of an elephant calf. They are born nearly blind and so rely on mom … and their trunks (which initially appear to have a life of their own), for everything. They learn to eat by putting their trunks inside their mother’s mouths to take food and their mum’s usually nurse them for four to six years.

Elephants live in a matriarchal society. Other females help the calf to its feet after birth and show the baby how to nurse. The females regularly make affectionate contact with the calf, similar to a mother’s hug and are fiercely protective. The herds of females and children usually travel together in a circle, with the youngest member on the inside to protect it from predators. If one child becomes an orphan, the rest of the heard adopt it.

Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant – the only harmless great thing. – John Donne

A long drop

Imagine arriving into the world by dropping 2 meters (6 feet) with a thud. Welcome to the world of the giraffe, where every birth is extreme because of the long drop the baby takes the very minute it enters the world! A typical birth has been described as a ‘superman’ position, with the front hooves poking out first: Front legs, nose and head, followed by the body.

After a pregnancy of around 14 to 15 months, giraffes stand during labour and push until the calf drops to the ground. And, although it sounds dramatic, it’s necessary. It helps rupture the amniotic sac, break the umbilical cord and the shock gets the calf breathing on its own.

At birth, a baby giraffe weighs around 50 to 70kg (100+ pounds) and, although they might look tiny next to their mothers, they are in fact around 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall!

The long pregnancy is to make sure the calf is developed enough to stand up straight after the birth – although a bit wobbly at first – and to feed and walk. All pretty important factors when you share your habitat with hungry predators.

Baby giraffes grow 2.5cm every day during the first week of their lives and will have doubled in size by their 1^st birthday. Mothers nurture them as they move and browse together with their calves in nursery herds.

Wildlife is something which man cannot construct. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. Man can rebuild a pyramid but he can’t rebuild ecology or a giraffe – Joy Adamson

King of beasts

The lion is a respected member of the Big 5 – a fearsome, carnivorous predator – and, although the lioness is the primary hunter of their pride, they are also gentle, nurturing moms to their cubs.

Lionesses fall pregnant from around the age of three and can give birth at any time of the year. They are pregnant for four months and usually give birth to between two and four cubs, although litters of up to six have been recorded.

Birthing usually happens in dense bush – for safety – as the cubs weigh around 1.5kg and are blind. Their eyes only open within 3 to 11 days and, like humans, they are also born without teeth!

Lion cubs are quick developers, they start walking at around 10 days old but are totally dependent on their mothers for food and protection for the first few months of their lives. They drink only milk for the first 10 weeks and spend most of their days playing or sleeping.

They are kept hidden and moved often for protection and only introduced to the rest of the pride when they are a few months old. By watching their moms, they learn to hunt, perfecting this skill by the age of two.

Lionesses look after their cubs and protect them until they can fully fend for themselves but they usually stay close to mom until they are around 3.

A lioness will fiercely protect her cubs, just as a mother will fiercely protect her children

The circle of life

There are many examples of exemplary mothers in nature: From the meerkat mom who gets ‘babysitting’ support, the solitary ‘single mom’ cheetah or the tsetse fly, known as the supermom of the insect world – she births only one baby at a time which is bigger than her!

In Africa, the miracle of birth and the continual renewal of life represent an intricate balance, where every living thing has a role to play in maintaining the health and survival of the continent.

The natural world is majestic but it can also be cruel and harsh and the reality is that it is not without its challenges, including man’s interference. At Mantis, it’s important for us to play a key role in promoting sustainable travel and conservation, while celebrating locality. We want to limit the threats to the delicate balance of the continent’s ecosystems, to encourage and work together with our guests and local communities to nurture and protect our natural habitats for future generations. Just as a mother would.