Page 97 - Devotion Among Animals Revealing the Work of God

Selfless Devotion of Creatures Within the Family

dangerous. The shellduck adults on guard will show off their
strength to drive the gulls away. Adult birds take turns protecting
their young and, when they come off duty, will leave to feed in re-
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mote waters.
When deer realize that they'll be unable to cope with an enemy,
they'll throw themselves at the predator, offering themselves as prey
and thus leading the predator away from their young. Many animal
species use the same strategy. For instance, when the female tiger
sees a hostile predator approaching, she immediately leaves her

cubs and begins drawing the predator's attention. A raccoon, on the
other hand, will take its young up the nearest tree, and quickly climb
back down to face the enemy. It will let itself be chased for a long dis-
tance, and when it believes that it has led the predator far away
enough, it quietly returns to its young. It goes without saying that
not all these strategies are always completely successful. Even if the
young survive, their parents may meet their deaths trying to protect

the offspring.

God inspires all living beings to care for their young and to be considerate and
compassionate to them.

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