Survival in the wild part 2 — Protection of the young

WITH all manner of predators prowling the wild, looking for a victim to devour, have we not wondered how the juveniles survive and grow to adulthood? Different animals apply different methods of protecting their young and nature also has its remedies to minimise predation on the young.

Some prey species have long gestation periods that allow for advanced development of the offspring such that they are born strong and agile. This kind of birth is known as precocial birth and it is common on species such as impala, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra. Within an hour of birth, the offspring is able to run for dear life in the event of danger. The young ones of predators on the other hand are born helpless, blind and incapable of activity. This is because they face very low danger levels and the gestation periods of such species are relatively short.

Colouration is another critical factor in the safety of young animals.

In a number of cases the young do not resemble the adults in colouration at birth. Where the adults have some bright colours that are easily detectable, the young tend to have dull colours that make them more difficult to see when hidden. As they grow stronger and wiser in the ways of the wild, they then shed off the dull colours and adopt the more beautiful colours of the adults. At this stage they are better able to defend themselves or escape danger. The juvenile colours should also match the environment where they are found. A perfect example of that colour transition is seen on the bateleur eagle. For birds those that nest on the ground lay eggs that are speckled and dull coloured so that they are not easily detected by predators. The hatchlings also have dull or cryptical colouration. This is in contrast with tree nesting birds which have the liberty to lay pure white eggs and the young are helpless when they hatch because the aboreal setting is more secure than on the ground.

Predators such as cats and dogs rely on their sense of smell to detect the presence of prey in the vicinity. To their safety, most young animals lack the smell that their adults are normally identified with such that a lion can pass very close to a hidden young buck and not smell it.

The camouflaging colouration and lack of typical scent are qualities that most young animals owe their survival to.

A number of species such as baboons, elephants and buffaloes also make efforts to protect their young by packing them at the centre of the group when they move so that predators cannot snatch them. There is no fair play in the wild and juveniles are normally regarded as easier targets by predators. It is therefore, the responsibility of adults to make sure the future of the species is secured.

For other species such as the African painted dog the young are kept safe in burrows where the responsibility to feed and nurse them is not limited to their mothers but shared communally. The young remain in the den with guards when the rest of the pack goes hunting. After a kill some adults will bring meat and regurgitate it to the juveniles.

Phineas Chauke is a tourism consultant, marketer and tour guide. He can be contacted on phinnychauke619@ gmail.com and +263776058523.