Page 129 - Devotion Among Animals Revealing the Work of God

Cooperation and Solidarity Among Animals

lope when she is ready for birth, withdraws to a place in the bushes,
and another female from the herd goes with her to assist.
Dolphins are another species well known for their cooperation
during parturition. As soon as they are born, baby dolphins need to
surface in order to breathe. For this reason, the female dolphin
pushes her baby up towards the surface. Just before birth, the

mother's movements slow down. This is why there are two other fe-
males present during birth for assistance. The assistants swim on ei-
ther side of her to protect her if need be, since she might not have
enough energy to deal with any potential danger. They guard her es-
pecially against sharks, as the blood that flows during birth might
attract them to the area.
For the first two weeks, the dolphin mother will not leave her
baby's side. Soon after birth, the infant dolphin begins to swim and
gradually begins to stray further and further. But the mother, still
weak from giving birth, cannot keep up with the agility of her young
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one. Her assistants help provide the protection the baby needs.

Elephant babies, alongside their mothers, are looked after by their aunts
and grandmothers.

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