{"id":18242,"date":"2024-03-01T12:29:05","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T12:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/?p=18242"},"modified":"2024-03-01T12:29:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T12:29:17","slug":"girls-gone-wild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/01\/girls-gone-wild\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls gone wild!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In the animal kingdom, it&#8217;s often assumed that males, with all their size and flamboyance, are the ones in charge. But reality paints a different picture. Delve deeper, and you&#8217;ll uncover extraordinary tales of female leadership and prowess across various species. From strategic hunters to nurturing matriarchs, females defy stereotypes, carving out powerful roles within their societies. Join us as we explore the often overlooked contributions of nature&#8217;s unsung heroines!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01720037-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"African lioness (Panthera leo) walking across savanna at sunset. Amboseli National Park, Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01720037-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01720037-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01720037-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01720037-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African lioness (Panthera leo) walking across savanna at sunset. Amboseli National Park, Kenya.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Lionesses<\/h1>\n<p>Move over king, there is a queen of the jungle (or er, savannah) now in power! Despite what <em>The Lion King<\/em> would have us believe, it\u2019s the lionesses who reign supreme, governing their prides with strength and strategy. They raise the cubs and lead the hunts, working together to secure food for the group. Matriarchs, often the oldest and most experienced lionesses, make crucial decisions regarding territory and protection. Their unity and cooperation ensure the pride&#8217;s survival, fostering a tightly knit social structure where each member plays a vital role. In this \u2018matrilineal\u2019 society, males play a transient role, mainly focused on territorial defence and teaching male cubs survival skills before they ultimately leave the pride.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African lioness (Panthera leo) portrait with male behind, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. February\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01320792-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African lioness (Panthera leo) portrait with male behind, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. February\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African lioness (Panthera leo) portrait with male behind, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. February<\/strong> by Anup Shah<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African lioness (Panthera leo) fending off male, Kenya, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685054-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African lioness (Panthera leo) fending off male, Kenya, Africa.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African lioness (Panthera leo) fending off male, Kenya, Africa.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lion (Panthera leo) pride feeding on buffalo killed the night before, female with three cubs snarling at male, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710997-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lion (Panthera leo) pride feeding on buffalo killed the night before, female with three cubs snarling at male, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lion (Panthera leo) pride feeding on buffalo killed the night before, female with three cubs snarling at male, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.<\/strong> by Charlie Hamilton-James<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) approaching male to protect her cubs, both male and female are covered in flies. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01519745-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) approaching male to protect her cubs, both male and female are covered in flies. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lioness (Panthera leo) approaching male to protect her cubs, both male and female are covered in flies. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December<\/strong> by Anup Shah<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01430915.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lion (Panthera leo) male nuzzling lioness, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, July\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01430915.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01430915-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01430915-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01430915-320x480.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01430915-375x562.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01430915-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01430915-71x106.jpg 71w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lion (Panthera leo) male nuzzling lioness, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, July\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lion (Panthera leo) male nuzzling lioness, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, July<\/strong> by Anup Shah<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lion (Panthera leo) male and female fighting as male tries to mate with lioness, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. Vulnerable species.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01427864-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lion (Panthera leo) male and female fighting as male tries to mate with lioness, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. Vulnerable species.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lion (Panthera leo) male and female fighting as male tries to mate with lioness, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. Vulnerable species.<\/strong> by Denis-Huot<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) and cubs in rain, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya, September.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01499856-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) and cubs in rain, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya, September.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lioness (Panthera leo) and cubs in rain, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya, September.<\/strong> by Denis-Huot<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Lionesses tend to stay within their mother\u2019s pride, or go on to make new prides with their sisters. This is a testament to their strong familial bonds, which benefits them when raising cubs. Lionesses with cubs of a similar age will nurse each others offspring in creche\u2019s. A female that raises her cubs in collaboration with her sisters is better equipped to stop marauding males from killing her cubs, if the dominant male of the pride is not present.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"African Lion (Panthera leo) three month old cub playing with sleeping nine year old mother, Kafue National Park, Zambia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00657121-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Lion (Panthera leo) three month old cub playing with sleeping nine year old mother, Kafue National Park, Zambia\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Asiatic lioness with two cubs (Panthera leo persica), Gir Forest NP, Gujarat, India\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01385585-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Asiatic lioness with two cubs (Panthera leo persica), Gir Forest NP, Gujarat, India\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Two African lionesses (Panthera leo) with cubs in savanna, Kenya, Africa .\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01685076-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Two African lionesses (Panthera leo) with cubs in savanna, Kenya, Africa .\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01537316-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) stretching with two young cubs beside her, Lake Ndutu, Tanzania\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01537316-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01537316-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01537316-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) stretching with two young cubs beside her, Lake Ndutu, Tanzania\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) with cub aged 2-3 months portrait. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, August\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431021-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) with cub aged 2-3 months portrait. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, August\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a good reason why lionesses are the namesake for the English women&#8217;s football team. In their pursuit of prey, they demonstrate a strong spirit of unity and teamwork, capable of taking down large megafauna that would be impossible to kill individually. The lionesses of the Savuti pride in Chobe National Park, Botswana, have even been seen to take down elephants! The key to the lionesses&#8217; success is once again collaboration. Lionesses will carefully position themselves around the weakest or youngest members of the herd, separate them out and then chase them together. By picking out one animal and working as a group, they ensure that they all can focus their energy on the easiest option and avoid injury. Their group efforts overpower the prey, providing enough food for the dominant lions, cubs and themselves.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Two African lionesses (Panthera leo) hunting a herd of zebra near a water hole during the dry season, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. February.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01496046-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Two African lionesses (Panthera leo) hunting a herd of zebra near a water hole during the dry season, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. February.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>naturepl_01Two African lionesses (Panthera leo) hunting a herd of zebra near a water hole during the dry season, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. February.<\/strong> by Denis-Huot<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) trying to bring down African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) Londolozi Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa. Sequence 4 of 5\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545211-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) trying to bring down African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) Londolozi Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa. Sequence 4 of 5\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lioness (Panthera leo) trying to bring down African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) Londolozi Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa. Sequence 4 of 5<\/strong> by Sergey Gorshkov<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African Lion (Panthera leo) females working together to take down a Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-320x212.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-900x597.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113802-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Lion (Panthera leo) females working together to take down a Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African Lion (Panthera leo) females working together to take down a Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania<\/strong> by Mitsuaki Iwago<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African Lion (Panthera leo) female attacking Burchell&#039;s Zebra (Equus burchellii), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-375x251.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-600x402.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-900x603.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00113758-158x106.jpg 158w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Lion (Panthera leo) female attacking Burchell&#039;s Zebra (Equus burchellii), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African Lion (Panthera leo) female attacking Burchell's Zebra (Equus burchellii), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania<\/strong> by Mitsuaki Iwago<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) chasing flock of Pelicans (Pelecanus sp.) on the flood plain, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711318-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lioness (Panthera leo) chasing flock of Pelicans (Pelecanus sp.) on the flood plain, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lioness (Panthera leo) chasing flock of Pelicans (Pelecanus sp.) on the flood plain, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.<\/strong> by Charlie Hamilton-James<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African lioness (Panthera leo) with cub, eating a Giraffe, Kruger National Park, Transvaal, South Africa, September.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01408549-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African lioness (Panthera leo) with cub, eating a Giraffe, Kruger National Park, Transvaal, South Africa, September.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African lioness (Panthera leo) with cub, eating a Giraffe, Kruger National Park, Transvaal, South Africa, September.<\/strong> by Oriol Alamany<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lion (Panthera leo) pride feeding on Zebra (Equus quagga) carcass, killed earlier that day, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075-768x479.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075-320x199.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075-375x234.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075-600x374.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075-900x561.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711075-170x106.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lion (Panthera leo) pride feeding on Zebra (Equus quagga) carcass, killed earlier that day, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lion (Panthera leo) pride feeding on Zebra (Equus quagga) carcass, killed earlier that day, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa.<\/strong> by Charlie Hamilton-James<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Bees<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01236906-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen surrounded by workers as she lays an egg in a cell at the edge of the comb, UK\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01236906-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01236906-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01236906-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01236906-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen surrounded by workers as she lays an egg in a cell at the edge of the comb, UK\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>In bee societies, the queen is the matriarch of the colony, holding ultimate authority. She dictates reproductive cycles and hive dynamics. Under her guidance, the hive thrives, with each bee fulfilling its specialized role. Every worker is a female, tirelessly labouring to collect nectar and pollen, construct intricate honeycombs, and care for the queen and her offspring. Through co-operation and communication, female bees ensure the cohesion and prosperity of their society. Males, on the other hand, do not contribute to the hive&#8217;s functionality. Their sole job is to fly off and reproduce with other young queens who will start a new colony.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen about to land at her nest burrow in a garden lawn with loaded pollen sacs to provision grubs that will become future workers for her colony, Wiltshire, UK, April.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-375x281.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01649804-141x106.jpg 141w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen about to land at her nest burrow in a garden lawn with loaded pollen sacs to provision grubs that will become future workers for her colony, Wiltshire, UK, April.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen about to land at her nest burrow in a garden lawn with loaded pollen sacs to provision grubs that will become future workers for her colony, Wiltshire, UK, April.<\/strong> by Nick Upton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen standing surrounded by workers, Kiel, Germany, May.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01577565-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen standing surrounded by workers,  Kiel, Germany, May.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen standing surrounded by workers,  Kiel, Germany, May.<\/strong> by Solvin Zankl<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Honey bees (Apis mellifera) swarming around a Queen bee on garden fence rail in late spring, Berkshire, UK. May.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01715104-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Honey bees (Apis mellifera) swarming around a Queen bee on garden fence rail in late spring, Berkshire, UK. May.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Honey bees (Apis mellifera) swarming around a Queen bee on garden fence rail in late spring, Berkshire, UK. May.<\/strong> by Nigel Cattlin<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Early bumblebee (Bombus partorum) queen flying to Purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. June.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624885-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Early bumblebee (Bombus partorum) queen flying to Purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. June.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Early bumblebee (Bombus partorum) queen flying to Purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. June.<\/strong> by Phil Savoie<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Honey bee (Apis mellifera), queen surrounded by her court, laying eggs on the broodcomb, Germany.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661272-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Honey bee (Apis mellifera), queen surrounded by her court, laying eggs on the broodcomb, Germany.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Honey bee (Apis mellifera), queen surrounded by her court, laying eggs on the broodcomb, Germany.<\/strong> by Ingo Arndt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Honey bee (Apis mellifera), queen surrounded by her court on the broodcomb, Germany\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01661285-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Honey bee (Apis mellifera), queen surrounded by her court on the broodcomb, Germany\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Honey bee (Apis mellifera), queen surrounded by her court on the broodcomb, Germany<\/strong> by Ingo Arndt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), queen, feeding on Chive (Allium schoenoprasum), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. March\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01624833-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), queen, feeding on Chive (Allium schoenoprasum), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. March\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), queen, feeding on Chive (Allium schoenoprasum), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. March<\/strong> by Phil Savoie<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen feeding on Verbena bonariensis in garden Cheshire, England, UK. August.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01512752-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen feeding on Verbena bonariensis in garden Cheshire, England, UK. August.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen feeding on Verbena bonariensis in garden Cheshire, England, UK. August.<\/strong> by Alan Williams<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Queen White tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) feeding on Yellow tree peony (Paeonia ludlowii) flower in garden, with house in the background, Wiltshire, England, UK, April . Property released.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01371562-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Queen White tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) feeding on Yellow tree peony (Paeonia ludlowii) flower in  garden, with house in the background, Wiltshire, England, UK, April . Property released.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Queen White tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) feeding on Yellow tree peony (Paeonia ludlowii) flower in  garden, with house in the background, Wiltshire, England, UK, April . Property released.<\/strong> by Nick Upton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Elephants<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703552-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch leading the herd across the savanna, covered in red dust, Lumo, Kenya, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703552-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703552-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703552-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703552-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch leading the herd across the savanna, covered in red dust, Lumo, Kenya, Africa.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Elephant societies are led by a matriarch, typically the oldest and most experienced female, who steers the herd with wisdom and resilience. Matriarchs possess an extensive knowledge of the herd&#8217;s territory, migration routes, and available resources, crucial for their survival in challenging environments. They lead their families to water sources and grazing grounds, making critical decisions that impact the entire herd&#8217;s well-being. Matriarchs also play a vital role in social cohesion, mediating conflicts, and maintaining harmony within the group.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-8' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710832-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711243-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd grazing on the savanna, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711243-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711243-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01711243-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd grazing on the savanna, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd using trunks to shower with dust to protect skin from sun, Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Endangered.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733952-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd using trunks to shower with dust to protect skin from sun, Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Endangered.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd crossing desert, Skeleton Coast, Namib Desert, Namibia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00478176-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd crossing desert, Skeleton Coast, Namib Desert, Namibia\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>While male elephants may briefly join the herd during mating seasons, it&#8217;s the matriarchs who maintain long-term stability and continuity. Through their leadership, female elephants exemplify strength, empathy, and adaptability, demonstrating the profound impact of female rule in the intricate dynamics of elephant society.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-9' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch and family, Amboseli National Park, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-375x251.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-600x402.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-900x603.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00180376-158x106.jpg 158w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch and family, Amboseli National Park, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch and family, Amboseli National Park, Kenya<\/strong> by Thomas Mangelsen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Black and white image of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch with herd, Tsavo Conservation Area, Kenya. Taken with a remote camera buggy \/ BeetleCam. Editorial use only. Other uses need clearance.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318-150x94.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318-320x200.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318-375x234.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318-600x375.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318-900x563.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01611318-170x106.jpg 170w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Black and white image of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch with herd, Tsavo Conservation Area, Kenya. Taken with a remote camera buggy \/ BeetleCam. Editorial use only. Other uses need clearance.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Black and white image of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch with herd, Tsavo Conservation Area, Kenya. Taken with a remote camera buggy \/ BeetleCam. Editorial use only. Other uses need clearance.<\/strong> by Will Burrard-Lucas<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch, covered in red dust, walking in savanna, Lumo, Kenya, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-375x281.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01703553-141x106.jpg 141w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch, covered in red dust, walking in savanna, Lumo, Kenya, Africa.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephant (Loxodonta africana) matriarch, covered in red dust, walking in savanna, Lumo, Kenya, Africa.<\/strong> by Andy Rouse<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Desert dwelling African elephants (Loxodonta africana) matriarch leading her family in the Hoanib River bed, Damaraland. Namibia.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01561677-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Desert dwelling African elephants (Loxodonta africana) matriarch leading her family in the Hoanib River bed, Damaraland. Namibia.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Desert dwelling African elephants (Loxodonta africana) matriarch leading her family in the Hoanib River bed, Damaraland. Namibia.<\/strong> by Christophe Courteau<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), matriarch communicating with others before crossing path. Jim Corbett National Park, India.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632-768x540.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632-320x225.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632-375x264.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632-600x422.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632-900x633.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545632-151x106.jpg 151w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), matriarch communicating with others before crossing path. Jim Corbett National Park, India.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), matriarch communicating with others before crossing path. Jim Corbett National Park, India.<\/strong> by Yashpal Rathore<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"677\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), matriarch communicating with other female in group, with her calf suckling. Jim Corbett National Park, India.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566-768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566-320x212.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566-375x248.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566-600x397.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566-900x595.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01545566-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), matriarch communicating with other female in group, with her calf suckling. Jim Corbett National Park, India.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), matriarch communicating with other female in group, with her calf suckling. Jim Corbett National Park, India.<\/strong> by Yashpal Rathore<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephants (Loxodonta africana) herd silhouetted at sunset. Chobe National Park, Botswana.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01633036-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephants (Loxodonta africana) herd silhouetted at sunset. Chobe National Park, Botswana.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephants (Loxodonta africana) herd silhouetted at sunset. Chobe National Park, Botswana.<\/strong> by Ann & Steve Toon<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephants (Loxodonta africana) feeding on loose soil for its minerals, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Taken with remote wide angle camera.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01547105-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephants (Loxodonta africana) feeding on loose soil for its minerals, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.\nTaken with remote wide angle camera.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephants (Loxodonta africana) feeding on loose soil for its minerals, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Taken with remote wide angle camera.<\/strong> by Anup Shah<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"817\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephants (Loxodonta africana) with calves drinking at waterhole, Botswana.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723-768x613.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723-320x255.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723-375x299.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723-600x479.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723-900x718.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01521723-133x106.jpg 133w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephants (Loxodonta africana) with calves drinking at waterhole, Botswana.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephants (Loxodonta africana) with calves drinking at waterhole, Botswana.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd eating, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01509062-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd eating, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd eating, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya<\/strong> by Denis-Huot<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd walking in procession, Kaokoveld Desert, Namibia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01436397-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd walking in procession, Kaokoveld Desert, Namibia\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd walking in procession, Kaokoveld Desert, Namibia<\/strong> by Ben Cranke<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd, Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662877-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd, Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd, Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana<\/strong> by Suzi Eszterhas<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd crossing river, Masai Mara, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00587066-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd crossing river, Masai Mara, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd crossing river, Masai Mara, Kenya<\/strong> by Anup Shah<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd sniffing the air, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00172065-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd sniffing the air, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd sniffing the air, Kenya<\/strong> by Tim Fitzharris<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Herd of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) having dust bath at waterhole. Tsavo East National Park, Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01712340-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Herd of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) having dust bath at waterhole. \nTsavo East National Park, Kenya.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Herd of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) having dust bath at waterhole.  Tsavo East National Park, Kenya.<\/strong> by Denis-Huot<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"816\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"RF - African elephant (Loxodonta africana) calf, aged one month,between legs of adult in herd. Amboseli National Park, Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214-768x612.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214-320x255.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214-375x299.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214-600x478.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214-900x717.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710214-133x106.jpg 133w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"RF - African elephant (Loxodonta africana) calf, aged one month,between legs of adult in  herd. \nAmboseli National Park, Kenya.\n\n(This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>RF - African elephant (Loxodonta africana) calf, aged one month,between legs of adult in  herd.  Amboseli National Park, Kenya.<\/strong> by Andy Rouse<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Aerial view of herd of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) walking on grassland, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01705660-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Aerial view of herd of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) walking on grassland, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Aerial view of herd of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) walking on grassland, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa.<\/strong> by Eric Baccega<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) on plains under stormy sky, Marakele National Park, Waterberg Biosphere, South Africa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234250-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) on plains under stormy sky, Marakele National Park, Waterberg Biosphere, South Africa\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephant (Loxodonta africana) on plains under stormy sky, Marakele National Park, Waterberg Biosphere, South Africa<\/strong> by Andy Rouse<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1021\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) three big bull elephants spending the late afternoon at waterhole, Ol&#039;Donyo Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-300x299.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-768x766.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-470x470.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-320x319.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-375x374.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-600x598.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-900x897.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01548820-106x106.jpg 106w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) three big bull elephants spending the late afternoon at waterhole, Ol&#039;Donyo Kenya.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephant (Loxodonta africana) three big bull elephants spending the late afternoon at waterhole, Ol'Donyo Kenya.<\/strong> by Wim van den Heever<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull crossing savanna, Masai Mara, Kenya (non-ex)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01234639-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull crossing savanna, Masai Mara, Kenya  (non-ex)\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull crossing savanna, Masai Mara, Kenya  (non-ex)<\/strong> by Andy Rouse<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Two African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bulls, one dust bathing at sunset, with a &amp;apos;super tusker&amp;apos; in the background (tusks weighing over 45kg each), Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Endangered.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733456-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Two African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bulls, one dust bathing at sunset, with a &amp;apos;super tusker&amp;apos; in the background (tusks weighing over 45kg each), Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Endangered.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Two African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bulls, one dust bathing at sunset, with a &apos;super tusker&apos; in the background (tusks weighing over 45kg each), Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Endangered.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull supertusker, aged 53 years, tamping a thorny bush branch with its feet to remove the thorns before eating it, Amboseli National Park, Kenya, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01708108-1-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull supertusker, aged 53 years, tamping a thorny bush branch with its feet to remove the thorns before eating it, Amboseli National Park, Kenya, Africa.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull supertusker, aged 53 years, tamping a thorny bush branch with its feet to remove the thorns before eating it, Amboseli National Park, Kenya, Africa.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Orcas<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-10' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629902-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) two spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629902-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629902-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629902-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629902-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) two spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>In Orca societies, females occupy the central leadership roles, wielding significant influence over pod dynamics. Matriarchs possess crucial knowledge, accumulated over decades of experience, that can mean life or death for their kin. They share their knowledge of the best hunting spots and more than half the fish they catch with family members. Their leadership ensures the cohesion and survival of the entire group. Moreover, orca societies exhibit strong matrilineal bonds, with offspring remaining closely associated with their mothers throughout their lives.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-11' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) porpoising, Norway. November.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629976-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) porpoising, Norway. November.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) porpoising, Norway. November.<\/strong> by Espen Bergersen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) pod hunting in channel, aerial view. Punta Norte, Valdez Peninsula, Argentina. April 2018.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-375x281.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01621300-141x106.jpg 141w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) pod hunting in channel, aerial view. Punta Norte, Valdez Peninsula, Argentina. April 2018.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Orca (Orcinus orca) pod hunting in channel, aerial view. Punta Norte, Valdez Peninsula, Argentina. April 2018.<\/strong> by Gabriel Rojo<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"628\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"A pod of Type B1 Antarctic killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunting Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) using coordinated wave washing technique, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. The synchronised charge creates a large wave, washing the seal into the water where it has little chance of escape. Drone shot. Winner of the Behaviour: Mammals category in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 competition\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441-150x92.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441-768x471.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441-320x196.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441-375x230.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441-600x368.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441-900x552.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01737441-173x106.jpg 173w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A pod of Type B1 Antarctic killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunting Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) using coordinated wave washing technique, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. The synchronised charge creates a large wave, washing the seal into the water where it has little chance of escape. Drone shot.\nWinner of the Behaviour: Mammals category in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 competition\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>A pod of Type B1 Antarctic killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunting Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) using coordinated wave washing technique, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. The synchronised charge creates a large wave, washing the seal into the water where it has little chance of escape. Drone shot. Winner of the Behaviour: Mammals category in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 competition<\/strong> by Bertie Gregory<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) two spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629901-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) two spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) two spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October<\/strong> by Espen Bergersen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Killer whale \/ orca (Orcinus orca) spyhopping. Andfjorden, close to Andoya, Nordland, Northern Norway, January.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01481126-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whale \/ orca (Orcinus orca) spyhopping. Andfjorden, close to Andoya, Nordland, Northern Norway, January.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Killer whale \/ orca (Orcinus orca) spyhopping. Andfjorden, close to Andoya, Nordland, Northern Norway, January.<\/strong> by Espen Bergersen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Killer whale \/ Orca (Orcinus orca) predating Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) at surface, blood drops visible, Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01559680-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whale \/ Orca (Orcinus orca) predating Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) at surface, blood drops visible, Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Killer whale \/ Orca (Orcinus orca) predating Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) at surface, blood drops visible, Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October<\/strong> by Espen Bergersen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Killer whale (Orcinus orca) male named Mel attacking young South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) on beach, Punta Norte, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01571126-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whale (Orcinus orca) male named Mel attacking young South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) on beach, Punta Norte, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Killer whale (Orcinus orca) male named Mel attacking young South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) on beach, Punta Norte, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina<\/strong> by Sylvain Cordier<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) male, swimming close to surface, Skjervoy, Troms, Norway, Barents Sea.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01728044-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) male, swimming close to surface, Skjervoy, Troms, Norway, Barents Sea.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Orca (Orcinus orca) male, swimming close to surface, Skjervoy, Troms, Norway, Barents Sea.<\/strong> by Alex Mustard<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) male tail slapping, Monterey Bay, California\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-320x212.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-900x597.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00582645-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) male tail slapping, Monterey Bay, California\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Orca (Orcinus orca) male tail slapping, Monterey Bay, California<\/strong> by Chase Dekker<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Southern Type B Killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunting Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) spyhopping to assess where seal is on ice floe and to intimidate, Antarctica. Taken on location for BBC Frozen Planet series, January 2009\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01362780-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Southern Type B Killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunting Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) spyhopping to assess where seal is on ice floe and to intimidate, Antarctica.  Taken on location for BBC Frozen Planet series, January 2009\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Southern Type B Killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunting Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) spyhopping to assess where seal is on ice floe and to intimidate, Antarctica.  Taken on location for BBC Frozen Planet series, January 2009<\/strong> by Kathryn Jeffs<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Orcas (Orcinus orca) pair in sea surrounded by mountains, Iceland, January.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435-320x224.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435-375x263.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435-600x420.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435-900x630.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01525435-151x106.jpg 151w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orcas (Orcinus orca) pair in sea surrounded by mountains, Iceland, January.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Orcas (Orcinus orca) pair in sea surrounded by mountains, Iceland, January.<\/strong> by Ben Hall<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Orcas (Orcinus orca) pod feeding on herring, wide shot showing surrounding landscape, Iceland, January 2013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01431983-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orcas (Orcinus orca) pod feeding on herring, wide shot showing surrounding landscape, Iceland, January 2013\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Orcas (Orcinus orca) pod feeding on herring, wide shot showing surrounding landscape, Iceland, January 2013<\/strong> by Ben Hall<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Orca (Orcinus orca), two spyhopping in gap in sea ice. Atka Bay, Antarctica. January.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619554-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orca (Orcinus orca), two spyhopping in gap in sea ice. Atka Bay, Antarctica. January.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Orca (Orcinus orca), two spyhopping in gap in sea ice. Atka Bay, Antarctica. January.<\/strong> by Stefan Christmann<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629862-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October<\/strong> by Espen Bergersen <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Killer whale \/ orca (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping very close, showing eye. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-375x281.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629878-141x106.jpg 141w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whale \/ orca (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping very close, showing eye. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Killer whale \/ orca (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping very close, showing eye. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November<\/strong> by Espen Bergersen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) travelling at high speed heading for a bait ball. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882-768x495.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882-320x206.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882-375x242.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882-600x387.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882-900x580.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629882-164x106.jpg 164w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) travelling at high speed heading for a bait ball. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) travelling at high speed heading for a bait ball. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November<\/strong> by Espen Bergersen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Orca \/ Killer whales (Orcinus orca) &#039;Offshore orca ecotype&#039; off the continental shelf of northeastern New Zealand. Editorial use only.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01590448-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orca \/ Killer whales (Orcinus orca) &#039;Offshore orca ecotype&#039; off the continental shelf of northeastern New Zealand. Editorial use only.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Orca \/ Killer whales (Orcinus orca) 'Offshore orca ecotype' off the continental shelf of northeastern New Zealand. Editorial use only.<\/strong> by Richard Robinson<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Female orcas help their offspring navigate the complexities of social life and protect them from fights with other killer whales. They pass down cultural traditions, hunting techniques, and social behaviours to successive generations, perpetuating a rich and dynamic heritage within the pod. While male orcas may occasionally challenge the matriarch&#8217;s authority, it is ultimately the females who maintain stability and harmony within the group.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-12' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629974-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) calf and adult porpoising, Norway. November.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629974-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629974-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629974-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca) calf and adult porpoising, Norway. November.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00999084-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) adult and breaching calf, southeast Alaska\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00999084-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00999084-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00999084-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00999084-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00999084-161x106.jpg 161w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) adult and breaching calf, southeast Alaska\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) with calf, swimming at surface in melting sea ice. Atka Bay, Antarctica. January.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01619549-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orca (Orcinus orca) with calf, swimming at surface in melting sea ice. Atka Bay, Antarctica. January.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629909-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca). spyhopping. Troms, Norway. November.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629909-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629909-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01629909-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Killer whales \/ orcas (Orcinus orca). spyhopping. Troms, Norway. November.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Clownfish<\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-13' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"RF - Portrait of Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) in its host Bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) on a coral reef. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682265-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"RF - Portrait of Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) in its host Bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) on a coral reef. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Did you know that in <em>Finding Nemo<\/em>, the main character&#8217;s father would have actually become his mother? Yes, as strange as it sounds, if the plotline had played out in real life, Marlin would have undergone a process known as sequential hermaphroditism, which would have changed his sex from male to female. In clownfish society, females are the largest of the group and the most dominant. They eat the most food and spend their time defending the anemones they live in. If two male clownfish are put in a tank together, they will fight and the one that wins becomes female!<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-14' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Saddleback Anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) parents with juvenile above sea anemone, Anilao, Philippines\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00586743-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Saddleback Anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) parents with juvenile above sea anemone, Anilao, Philippines\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Western clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) poses with a large, dominant female behind. The clownfish in the foreground is probably a juvenile. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01634723-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Western clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) poses with a large, dominant female behind. The clownfish in the foreground is probably a juvenile. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Maldive anemonefish (Amphiprion nigripes) shoal swimming in the current flowing over a Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica). Baa Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-320x212.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534397-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Maldive anemonefish (Amphiprion nigripes) shoal swimming in the current flowing over a Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica). Baa Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Red Sea anemonefish (Amphiprion bicinctus) in their home, a Sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica), on a coral reef. Big Brother island, Red Sea. Egypt.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01594258-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red Sea anemonefish (Amphiprion bicinctus) in their home, a Sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica), on a coral reef. Big Brother island, Red Sea. Egypt.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Pink anemonefish {Amphiprion perideraion} in sea anemone, Palau, Micronesia (Non-ex).\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01116804-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Pink anemonefish {Amphiprion perideraion} in sea anemone, Palau, Micronesia \n(Non-ex).\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>If the dominant female of a group dies, her mate (the second largest fish in the group) will change sex to fill her place. One of the lower ranking non-breeding males in the family will then become the male partner to this newly made female! The role of males and females in clownfish society is a reversal of the roles in lion prides. When clownfish spawn, the male guards the eggs on a flat surface beside the anemone for six to ten days, whilst the female will resume her role of protecting the anemone from predators. Interestingly, the brain of the clownfish is the first thing to change when an individual undergoes sequential hermaphoroditism and the actual physical sex of the fish may not change until months or even years after. Despite this, other fish will still treat the individual as if they are physically a female, with males avoiding conflict with them and other females actively fighting them.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-15' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) adult bares its teeth while guarding its newly laid eggs, Anilao, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Pacific Ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01555423-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) adult bares its teeth while guarding its newly laid eggs, Anilao, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Pacific Ocean.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) adult bares its teeth while guarding its newly laid eggs, Anilao, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Pacific Ocean.<\/strong> by Alex Mustard<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Skunk anemonefish \/ Clownfish (Amphiprion sandaracinos) blowing water over its eggs close to the anemone, Triton Bay West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01691116-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Skunk anemonefish \/ Clownfish (Amphiprion sandaracinos) blowing water over its eggs close to the anemone, Triton Bay West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Skunk anemonefish \/ Clownfish (Amphiprion sandaracinos) blowing water over its eggs close to the anemone, Triton Bay West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean.<\/strong> by Magnus Lundgren<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) sleeping, Papua Barat, Indonesia Minimum fees apply.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01643923-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) sleeping,  Papua Barat, Indonesia \nMinimum fees apply.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) sleeping,  Papua Barat, Indonesia  Minimum fees apply.<\/strong> by Magnus Lundgren<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Detail image of clownfish eggs (Amphiprion ocellaris). Anilao, Batangas marine protected area, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01682071-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Detail image of clownfish eggs (Amphiprion ocellaris). Anilao, Batangas marine protected area, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Detail image of clownfish eggs (Amphiprion ocellaris). Anilao, Batangas marine protected area, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.<\/strong> by Alex Mustard<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Tomato anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus) resting in Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) on a coral reef, Bitung, North Sulawesi, Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01727960-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Tomato anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus) resting in Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) on a coral reef, Bitung, North Sulawesi, Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Tomato anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus) resting in Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) on a coral reef, Bitung, North Sulawesi, Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.<\/strong> by Alex Mustard<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01709147.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Black and white saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) nestled in its anemone, Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Molucca Sea.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01709147.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01709147-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01709147-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01709147-320x480.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01709147-375x562.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01709147-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01709147-71x106.jpg 71w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Black and white saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) nestled in its anemone, Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Molucca Sea.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Black and white saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) nestled in its anemone, Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Molucca Sea.<\/strong> by Alex Mustard<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) hiding amongst the tentacles of its closed anemone host, Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01346614-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) hiding amongst the tentacles of its closed anemone host, Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) hiding amongst the tentacles of its closed anemone host, Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.<\/strong> by Juergen Freund<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) barks a warning as it guards a clutch of developing eggs (beneath it) laid on a small stone, below a fold in its home, a Haddon&#039;s sea anemone (Stichodactyla haddonis). Dauin, Dauin Marine Protected Area, Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines. Bohol Sea, tropical west Pacific Ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01657613-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) barks a warning as it guards a clutch of developing eggs (beneath it) laid on a small stone, below a fold in its home, a Haddon&#039;s sea anemone (Stichodactyla haddonis). Dauin, Dauin Marine Protected Area, Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines. Bohol Sea, tropical west Pacific Ocean.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) barks a warning as it guards a clutch of developing eggs (beneath it) laid on a small stone, below a fold in its home, a Haddon&#039;s sea anemone (Stichodactyla haddonis). Dauin, Dauin Marine Protected Area, Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines. Bohol Sea, tropical west Pacific Ocean.<\/strong> by Alex Mustard<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Naked mole rats<\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-16' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber), native to Africa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00651109-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber), native to Africa\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>You may have heard of the Queen Bee or even the Rat King, but have you ever heard of the Queen naked mole rat? This species is the only mammal to behave like social insects, with a hierarchy that determines an individual&#8217;s role within a colony. The rats live in extensive tunnel systems underneath the savannahs of East Africa, surviving on roots and tubers. Ninety-nine percent of a Naked mole rat colony will never reproduce. The job of reproduction is the role of a single female, who bullies the rest of the colony into submission by shoving them relentlessly as she walks past. This stresses the workers out, which causes them to remain in a pre-pubescent state. Workers are made up of both males and females, all incapable of breeding due to not having fully formed genitalia.<\/p>\n<p>Only three males chosen by the queen will have the ability to mate with her, producing enough offspring to maintain a colony of seventy to over two-hundred individuals. When the queen dies, a few females will fight to the death for her place, the winner changing physiologically to become longer and larger. This morphological change allows her to become pregnant without getting stuck in the narrow tunnels that make up the homes of this unusual species.<\/p>\n<p>Whilst the lioness is more readily seen, perhaps the queen of the savannah actually lurks underground?<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-17' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Naked mole rat feeding {Heterocephalus glaber} Kenya, East Africa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152-320x215.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152-375x252.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152-600x403.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152-900x604.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065152-158x106.jpg 158w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Naked mole rat feeding {Heterocephalus glaber} Kenya, East Africa\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Naked mole rat feeding {Heterocephalus glaber} Kenya, East Africa<\/strong> by Neil Bromhall<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Naked mole rat in tunnel {Heterocephalus glaber} Kenya, East Africa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140-768x491.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140-320x204.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140-375x240.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140-600x383.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140-900x575.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01065140-166x106.jpg 166w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Naked mole rat in tunnel {Heterocephalus glaber} Kenya, East Africa\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Naked mole rat in tunnel {Heterocephalus glaber} Kenya, East Africa<\/strong> by Neil Bromhall<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) portrait, Lincoln Children&amp;apos;s Zoo. Captive.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701278-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) portrait, Lincoln Children&amp;apos;s Zoo. Captive.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) portrait, Lincoln Children&apos;s Zoo. Captive.<\/strong> by Joel Sartore<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) head portrait, Singapore Zoo. Captive.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701706-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) head portrait, Singapore Zoo. Captive.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) head portrait, Singapore Zoo. Captive.<\/strong> by Roland Seitre\/naturepl.com<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"674\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) close up portrait, showing large, protruding teeth, Kenya. Captive.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667-320x211.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667-375x247.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667-600x395.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667-900x592.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01701667-161x106.jpg 161w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) close up portrait, showing large, protruding teeth, Kenya. Captive.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) close up portrait, showing large, protruding teeth, Kenya. Captive.<\/strong> by Roland Seitre<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber), Assamo, Djibouti\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00662400-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber), Assamo, Djibouti\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber), Assamo, Djibouti<\/strong> by Roland Seitre<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Hyenas<\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-18' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) low angle shot of group taken with remote camera. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia. May\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01534088-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) low angle shot of group taken with remote camera. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia. May\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>If you think that shoving your workers around sounds aggressive, wait until you hear about the tyrannical reign of the dominant female hyena!<\/p>\n<p>Hyenas have a social hierarchy that places the females of the group way above the males. The key to the alpha female&#8217;s dominance is in her physiology. A female hyena is much larger than a male and also has genitalia that resembles a penis and scrotum. A female hyena\u2019s body produces testosterone during pregnancy, ensuring that her female offspring will be born with her same domineering traits and size. The larger and more aggressive the female, the more testosterone her unborn pups will be exposed to.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-19' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female walking with pseudo-penis showing, Masai Mara, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00449247-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female walking with pseudo-penis showing, Masai Mara, Kenya\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female, Kruger National Park, South Africa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00583966-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female, Kruger National Park, South Africa\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) carrying young pup, Masai Mara, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) carrying young pup, Masai Mara, Kenya\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female and cubs feeding on baby Thomson&#039;s gazelle, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya, September\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01457530-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female and cubs feeding on baby Thomson&#039;s gazelle, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya, September\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted Hyenas {Crocuta crocuta} juveniles with female lying in den, Masai Mara Conservancy, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173766-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyenas {Crocuta crocuta} juveniles with female lying in den, Masai Mara Conservancy, Kenya\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) mother carrying 3 to 4 day old cub, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761462-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) mother carrying 3 to 4 day old cub, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group feeding on kill, Masai Mara, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group feeding on kill, Masai Mara, Kenya\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) pup suckling, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)  pup suckling, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>The reason for this aggression is due to the feeding style of a hyena clan, where up to eighty individuals may be fighting over one carcass. A more aggressive female can ensure that her small cubs get a chance to feed amongst the chaos. The unusual genitalia of the females may also ensure that she has more choice over who she breeds with. The pseudo-penis made from her elongated clitoris makes copulation difficult, and so it requires her full cooperation. This organ is also used to urinate, so if she decides she no longer wants to have the cubs of the male she has mated with, she can ensure that his sperm does not reach the eggs in her reproductive system.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-20' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female greeting pups. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. March\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01271558-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female greeting pups. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. March\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) female greeting pups. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. March<\/strong> by Anup Shah<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) carrying young pup, Masai Mara, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429680-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) carrying young pup, Masai Mara, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) carrying young pup, Masai Mara, Kenya<\/strong> by David Tipling<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) female with Ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488740-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) female with Ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) female with Ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.<\/strong> by Denis-Huot<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) pup suckling, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01597491-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)  pup suckling, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)  pup suckling, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.<\/strong> by Eric Baccega <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Two Lionesses (Panthera leo) trying to defend kill from large pack of Spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01488662-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Two Lionesses (Panthera leo) trying to defend kill from large pack of Spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Two Lionesses (Panthera leo) trying to defend kill from large pack of Spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.<\/strong> by Denis-Huot<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Female and juvenile Spotted Hyena {Crocuta crocuta} feeding on Wildebeest carcass, Masai Mara Conservancy, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01173785-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Female and juvenile Spotted Hyena {Crocuta crocuta} feeding on Wildebeest carcass, Masai Mara Conservancy, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Female and juvenile Spotted Hyena {Crocuta crocuta} feeding on Wildebeest carcass, Masai Mara Conservancy, Kenya<\/strong> by Suzi Eszterhas<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group feeding on kill, Masai Mara, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00543802-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group feeding on kill, Masai Mara, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group feeding on kill, Masai Mara, Kenya<\/strong> by Anup Shah<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"R\u00fcppell&#039;s griffon vulture (Gyps rueppelli) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) pick at an elephant (Loxodonta africana) carcass at dawn, Laikipia Plateau, Kenya. This elephant was killed by government officials after it killed a man walking home late at night. R\u00fcppell&#039;s vultures are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List due to severe population declines caused by loss of their primary food source (dead wildlife) and poisoning by farmers.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01607384-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"R\u00fcppell&#039;s griffon vulture (Gyps rueppelli) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) pick at an elephant (Loxodonta africana) carcass at dawn, Laikipia Plateau, Kenya.\nThis elephant was killed by government officials after it killed a man walking home late at night. R\u00fcppell&#039;s vultures are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List due to severe population declines caused by loss of their primary food source (dead wildlife) and poisoning by farmers.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>R\u00fcppell's griffon vulture (Gyps rueppelli) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) pick at an elephant (Loxodonta africana) carcass at dawn, Laikipia Plateau, Kenya. This elephant was killed by government officials after it killed a man walking home late at night. R\u00fcppell's vultures are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List due to severe population declines caused by loss of their primary food source (dead wildlife) and poisoning by farmers.<\/strong> by Jen Guyton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group at den site at sunset with pups from two litters, aged 4-6 weeks, Topi Plain, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01710982-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group at den site at sunset with pups from two litters, aged 4-6 weeks, Topi Plain, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) group at den site at sunset with pups from two litters, aged 4-6 weeks, Topi Plain, Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.<\/strong> by Charlie Hamilton-James<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} chasing vulture from carcass. Maasai Mara, Kenya.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01133453-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} chasing vulture from carcass. Maasai Mara, Kenya.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted hyaena {Crocuta crocuta} chasing vulture from carcass. Maasai Mara, Kenya.<\/strong> by Anup Shah<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) 13 to 15 week old cub with mother, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761404-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) 13 to 15 week old cub with mother, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) 13 to 15 week old cub with mother, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya<\/strong> by Suzi Eszterhas<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) 34 day old cub resting with mother, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00761434-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) 34 day old cub resting with mother, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) 34 day old cub resting with mother, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya<\/strong> by Suzi Eszterhas<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Unfortunately, this adaptation does have its drawbacks. 10% of first mothers die during birth and 60% of cubs are born dead due to suffocation in the long birth canal. The alpha female hyena\u2019s reign may be violent, but it also may be short.<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Topi antelope<\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-21' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) herd with guard standing on termite mound, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00763125-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) herd with guard standing on termite mound, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>We have all seen images of male deer and antelopes, using their impressive horns to fight one another for the rights to mate with a harem of females. But did you know that for the Topi antelope, that role is reversed?<\/p>\n<p>Topi antelope females are only receptive to mating for one day out of a whole year. As a result, during this 24-hour period, they mate a lot. Females have been shown to mate with up to four different males in one day. Their desire to mate is so strong that the male Topi antelopes get tired and reject females they have already mated with. This leads to a lot of competition between the females, who fight for the attention of the most desirable males, who they may only get the chance to mate with once. Females have even been seen to attack the males themselves if they are with another female, just to monopolise their time.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-22' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) mother with nursing calf, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00122486-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) mother with nursing calf, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) mother with nursing calf, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania<\/strong> by Mitsuaki Iwago<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) pair with Burchell&#039;s Zebra (Equus burchellii) and Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-375x251.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-900x602.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00127759-158x106.jpg 158w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) pair with Burchell&#039;s Zebra (Equus burchellii) and Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) pair with Burchell's Zebra (Equus burchellii) and Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania<\/strong> by Mitsuaki Iwago\/Minden\/naturepl.com<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) herd, Masai Mara, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784099-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) herd, Masai Mara, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) herd, Masai Mara, Kenya<\/strong> by Suzi Eszterhas<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Topi \/ Tsessebe antelope {Damaliscus lunatus}, Okavango Delta, Botswana.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01137799-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Topi \/ Tsessebe antelope {Damaliscus lunatus}, Okavango Delta, Botswana.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Topi \/ Tsessebe antelope {Damaliscus lunatus}, Okavango Delta, Botswana.<\/strong> by Christophe Courteau<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) mother and young calf, Masai Mara, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00784103-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) mother and young calf, Masai Mara, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) mother and young calf, Masai Mara, Kenya<\/strong> by Suzi Eszterhas<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Four Topi \/ Tsessebe antelope (Damaliscus lunatus) portrait. Duba Plains concession, Okavango delta, Botswana, Southern Africa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01576745-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Four Topi \/ Tsessebe antelope (Damaliscus lunatus) portrait. Duba Plains concession, Okavango delta, Botswana, Southern Africa\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Four Topi \/ Tsessebe antelope (Damaliscus lunatus) portrait. Duba Plains concession, Okavango delta, Botswana, Southern Africa<\/strong> by Eric Baccega<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"675\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00344833.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus), Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00344833.jpg 675w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00344833-99x150.jpg 99w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00344833-300x455.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00344833-320x485.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00344833-375x569.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00344833-600x910.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_00344833-70x106.jpg 70w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Topi (Damaliscus lunatus), Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Topi (Damaliscus lunatus), Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya<\/strong> by Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>The more they mate, the pickier the males get and begin to fight off any female that they have already copulated with. Once the day is over, the female no longer desires them and will go on to give birth to the calf of one of the four males she has mated with.<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Phalaropes<\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-23' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) two females fighting over a male at nesting pond on arctic tundra off Point Barrow, National Petroleum Reserves, Arctic Alaska, USA. June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01226337-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) two females fighting over a male at nesting pond on arctic tundra off Point Barrow, National Petroleum Reserves, Arctic Alaska, USA. June\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Similar to the Topi antelope, it is the female Phalarope&#8217;s job to woo the males of her species. Phalarope females are much more brightly coloured than the males, the reverse of most forms of sexual dimorphism in birds! The female courts the male by swimming around him, to get him to follow her. Once they have mated and the female has laid a clutch of eggs, she will fight off any rival females until the male has begun incubation. After he has started this task, she abandons him to search for a new mate and to lay a new clutch. This form of sexual behaviour is known as polyandry.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-24' class='gallery gallery-18242 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"RF - Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) on water, calling, Varanger Peninsula, Finnmark, Norway. June. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01733089-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"RF - Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) on water, calling, Varanger Peninsula, Finnmark, Norway. June. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>RF - Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) on water, calling, Varanger Peninsula, Finnmark, Norway. June. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)<\/strong> by Staffan Widstrand<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) female on Loch Funzie, Fetlar, Shetland, June.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01650288-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) female on Loch Funzie, Fetlar, Shetland, June.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) female on Loch Funzie, Fetlar, Shetland, June.<\/strong> by David Tipling<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) nest and eggs Varangerfiord, Norway.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960-150x103.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960-320x219.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960-375x257.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960-600x411.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960-900x616.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01556960-155x106.jpg 155w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) nest and eggs\nVarangerfiord, Norway.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) nest and eggs Varangerfiord, Norway.<\/strong> by Melvin Grey<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Northern\/ Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) male swimming, in breeding plumage. Finnmark, Norway, July.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01500103-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Northern\/ Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) male swimming, in breeding plumage. Finnmark, Norway, July.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Northern\/ Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) male swimming, in breeding plumage. Finnmark, Norway, July.<\/strong> by Andy Trowbridge<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) male with female resting in background, Loch Funzie, Fetlar, Shetland, UK, June.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922-150x106.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922-768x545.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922-320x227.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922-375x266.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922-600x425.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01495922-900x638.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) male with female resting in background, Loch Funzie, Fetlar, Shetland, UK, June.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) male with female resting in background, Loch Funzie, Fetlar, Shetland, UK, June.<\/strong> by David Tipling<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) stretching, Iceland, July.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01558270-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) stretching, Iceland, July.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) stretching, Iceland, July.<\/strong> by Niall Benvie<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) brooding newly hatched chicks, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01538556-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) brooding newly hatched chicks, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA June\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) brooding newly hatched chicks, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA June<\/strong> by Gerrit Vyn<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"670\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) pair, Shetland, UK, June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860-150x98.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860-768x503.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860-320x209.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860-375x245.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860-600x393.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860-900x589.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01429860-162x106.jpg 162w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) pair, Shetland, UK, June\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) pair, Shetland, UK, June<\/strong> by David Tipling<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"615\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) pair on water, male in foreground, Iceland, June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779-320x192.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779-375x225.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779-600x360.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779-900x541.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01384779-176x106.jpg 176w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) pair on water, male in foreground, Iceland, June\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) pair on water, male in foreground, Iceland, June<\/strong> by Markus Varesvuo<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red \/ Grey phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) breeding pair standing in kelp, Iceland, June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01290584-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red \/ Grey phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) breeding pair standing in kelp, Iceland, June\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red \/ Grey phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) breeding pair standing in kelp, Iceland, June<\/strong> by Hanne & Jens Eriksen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red-necked \/ Northern phalaropes {Phalaropus lobatus} mating pair, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK, June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01272494-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red-necked \/ Northern phalaropes {Phalaropus lobatus} mating pair, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK, June\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red-necked \/ Northern phalaropes {Phalaropus lobatus} mating pair, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK, June<\/strong> by David Tipling<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"716\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red \/ Grey phalarope {Phalaropus fulicarius} male with chick, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784-768x537.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784-320x224.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784-375x262.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784-600x420.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784-900x629.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01212784-152x106.jpg 152w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red \/ Grey phalarope {Phalaropus fulicarius} male with chick, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red \/ Grey phalarope {Phalaropus fulicarius} male with chick, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway<\/strong> by Hanne & Jens Eriksen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"627\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) female on the right and male on the left at nesting pond in arctic Alaska, USA. Digitally altered - rock removed. June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735-150x92.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735-768x470.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735-320x196.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735-375x230.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735-600x367.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735-900x551.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01206735-173x106.jpg 173w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) female on the right and male on the left at nesting pond in arctic Alaska, USA. Digitally altered - rock removed. June\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) female on the right and male on the left at nesting pond in arctic Alaska, USA. Digitally altered - rock removed. June<\/strong> by Roy Mangersnes<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"773\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) pair mating on water. Iceland. Magic Moments book plate.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097-768x580.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097-320x242.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097-375x283.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097-600x453.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097-900x679.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/naturepl_01179097-140x106.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) pair mating on water. Iceland. Magic Moments book plate.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) pair mating on water. Iceland. Magic Moments book plate.<\/strong> by Markus Varesvuo<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the animal kingdom, it&#8217;s often assumed that males, with all their size and flamboyance, are the ones in charge. But reality paints a different picture. Delve deeper, and you&#8217;ll uncover extraordinary tales of female leadership and prowess across various species. From strategic hunters to nurturing matriarchs, females defy stereotypes, carving out powerful roles within&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/01\/girls-gone-wild\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"button\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stories","category-natural-inspiration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18242"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18242"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18670,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18242\/revisions\/18670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}