The 9 Best Dads of the Animal Kingdom

We wanted to wish a happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, both human and animal fathers alike!

As a tribute to hardworking dads, we made a list of some of the animal kingdom’s most dedicated dads. Weigh in on the comments section and tell us which species you think is the best father figure.

Even better, send this article to the fathers in your life, telling them which animal father he reminds you of the most!

9: Lion

The male lion sometimes gets a bad rap when it comes to parenting. He’s known for lounging in the shade while his lioness risks her life hunting all day long. And hunting is no easy task for her, considering male lions eat about 65 pounds of meat per day! What’s worse, when mom brings in a kill, dad always gets dibs on the first juicy cut before mom and the kids get to eat.

However, when a threat appears, the male lion really steps up and becomes ferociously protective of his pride, which can consist of 30 or more lionesses and cubs. When he senses danger, his fatherly intuition kicks in and he does anything and everything to ensure the safety of his family.

Join us on an African safari to see lions in the wild.

8: Gorilla

A typical gorilla father is in charge of a clan as large as 30 gorillas. He is responsible for finding food for his group, which is a big job seeing as gorillas typically eat up to 50 pounds of food per day! He is quite respectful of the mother of his children, always dining with her first before letting the kids join in on the meal.

Gorilla dads are also very attentive, fending off threats by fiercely beating their chests and charging enemies. They often have to fight off other male gorillas, who are known to kill baby gorillas when trying to take over the group. A gorilla father spends a good deal of time with their young until they become teenagers, playing lovingly with his offspring and settling any arguments that arise between siblings.

See gorillas in their natural habitat on our Uganda and Rwanda tours.

7: Red Fox

Male red foxes are doting and indulgent dads, and they enjoy playing and roughhousing with their pups, as most dads do. While the pups are young, the father hunts every day, providing a food delivery service to the den for the cubs and their mother.

After about three months, though, the cubs experience a rude awakening: no more free food! The father stops feeding them as a tactic to get the pups to leave the den. But he doesn’t make them go cold turkey—he buries food close to the den to help teach them how to sniff and forage for food.

See red foxes with us on our U.S. national parks trips.

6: African Wild Dog

Just like the puppies of domesticated dogs, African wild dog pups are extremely active and expend quite a few calories throughout the day. Since the pups are unable to eat solid foods until they are about 10 weeks old, their father will swallow their food and then regurgitate the softer version for the pups to eat, making sure they get enough nourishment.

Some parents will stop at nothing to make sure their kids have a square meal! This feeding practice serves another purpose, too; since the pups have to rely on their fathers for food, it keeps them from wandering too far from home, so they don’t fall prey to enemies. A good thing, since these carnivores are endangered, they need all the help they can get!

See African wild dogs on any of Nat Hab’s Botswana safaris.

5: Golden Lion Tamarin

By two weeks old, golden lion tamarin infants are carried on their father’s back nearly 24/7. Dad hands them over to their mother one at a time every two to three hours, then she nurses the baby for around 15 minutes and hands it back to its father. The infants will ride on the father’s back until they are six to seven weeks old.

At four weeks, the babies begin to eat soft food, and it’s the father’s job to peel and mash bananas and hand-feed them to his offspring.

4: Greater Flamingo

Male flamingos are all-around good guys. Even while congregating in a flock of thousands of birds, these guys remain monogamous, mating with one special gal for life. Flamingo dads are also feminists, as they wholeheartedly believe in gender equality, which is rare in the animal kingdom.

When it comes time to mate, Dad helps Mom select a nesting site, and together they construct the nest out of mud. Once she lays her egg, the father shares in the responsibility of incubating the egg, as they take turns sitting on the nest for equal amounts of time. Once the hatchling is born, mom and dad share all parenting duties equally.

See greater flamingos on one of Nat Hab’s Galapagos tours.

3: Frogs & Toads

Collectively, most frog and toad species have some pretty dedicated dads. Some male frogs keep their tadpoles in their mouths until the tadpoles are able to make it on their own.

Other amphibian fathers, such as the midwife toad, implant their spawn underneath their skin, usually on the backs of their legs. One type of frog, aptly called the pouched frog, carries its offspring in a pouch on their belly while they develop, much like kangaroos or possums do.

2: Seahorse

Male seahorses go above and beyond when it comes to parenting—they are one of the only species in the animal kingdom known for male pregnancy! That’s right, the mother seahors deposits her eggs into the male seahorse’s pouch; then, he fertilizes and incubates the eggs for 45 days until they are born as full-on tiny seahorses.

Seahorse dads may not experience morning sickness, but they do have to endure contractions as they go through labor.

Learn more about seahorses in this Daily Dose of Nature webinar with Nat Hab Expedition Leader Melissa Silva!

1: Emperor penguin

Emperor penguin dads are some of the most dedicated animal fathers out there. By the time the female lays her egg, she’s expended so much energy that her nutritional reserves become exhausted, and she must set out to sea for two months to feed. During that time, the dad takes on the role of a single father, keeping the egg warm by ever so carefully balancing the egg between the top of his toes and his belly.

He takes his responsibility seriously and doesn’t eat or even move during the entire two months, for if the egg is exposed to the harsh Antarctic cold and wind, the chick won’t survive. If the chick hatches before Mom is back, Dad will feed the chick with milk he produces from his esophagus. What dedication!

See emperor penguins in the wild on one of Nat Hab’s Antarctica adventure cruises.