Over the years, you might have watched Zoo mums nurture their babies with some sweet, and sometimes surprising, parenting styles that can be quite different to our own.
Some of their tricks might seem strange, but every species has a unique way of nurturing its young and keeping them safe!
Giraffes
Giraffe calves arrive at around 6ft tall and already weighing 40kg – that makes them long-legged and super wobbly!
As a prey species, the newborns need to stand up on their own and get moving quickly.
It might look a little tough, but giraffe mums will give their young a little nudge (sometimes a not-so-gentle kick) to get them moving.
In the wild, being able to get around is key to staying safe from any potential danger!
Koalas
Before a baby joey can snack on eucalyptus leaves, its tiny tummy needs help. That’s where mum comes in with a special food called pap.
And yep… it is exactly what it sounds like, a kind of poop!
Koala mums break down the leaves and turn them into a soft, nutrient-packed snack. It might sound a bit yucky to us, but it’s exactly what a growing joey needs to get big and strong.
Emperor Tamarins
Emperor Tamarin mums might be tiny but they take on a big job of birthing twins! Instead of doing everything themselves, tamarin mums are all about working smarter.
Dad takes care of carrying the babies around, while mum focuses on feeding them up to five times a day. That’s a lot of snack breaks!
African Painted Dogs
African Painted Dog mums provide their pups with the best from the very beginning.
These carnivores have very intricate social dynamics. Within the pack, only the alpha female has babies, making sure the next generation has best chance of survival.
The pups are always fed first before any of the other adults. Other female pack-members keeping a close eye on the little ones while mum keeps the whole pack in check.
Sumatran Orangutans
Sumatran Orangutan mums are some of the most dedicated mums in the animal world.
These great apes stay close to their young for years, patiently teaching them everything they need to know, from climbing and foraging to building nests high in the trees.
It can take up to eight years before a young orangutan is ready to go out on its own!
All mums get free entry to the Zoo this Mother's Day, Sunday 11 May.
Make your mum’s day extra wild with a behind-the-scenes experience, where our expert keepers take you behind-the-scenes to learn more about the animals that call Perth Zoo home.