How to Help Fathers of All Species This Dad’s Day
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the father figures in our lives, and the special bonds that dads of all species share with their kids. After all, humans are far from the only animals who bond with their babies, bring home the bagels, and seek to enjoy family time without encountering cruelty.
Let’s celebrate some of the more uniquely Aussie great animal dads and how you can help ensure they’re free from harm to enjoy time with their babies.
Emus
When it comes to medal-worthy dad behaviour, it’s hard to find a more deserving recipient than the emu. After the female emu lays their clutch of eggs, she’s off, leaving dad to pick up the slack. In fiercely protective fashion, the father emu sits on his eggs for up to 55 days, foregoing food, water and bathroom breaks to ensure his focus is firmly on them. After hatching, he raises the chicks for six months, teaching them all they need to survive .
Emancipate Emus
Emus are Aussie icons; adorning our coat of arms and 50-cent piece, so it might alarm you to learn that we routinely abuse them for profit. While less prominent than they once were, emu farms continue to breed and slaughter emus for their meat, oil and feathers .
You can help these doting dads by never buying “emu oil” liniments, never wearing feathers, and leaving animals off your plate.
Clown Fish
Finding Nemo was more than just a cute story about a young fish and the bond he shared with his dad; it was also a pretty accurate portrayal of clown fish family ties. In nature, Male clownfish are the primary caretakers, guarding their young. All clownfish are also born male before some become females, so at some point, they’re all “Mr. Mum ”!
Help Clown Fish “just keep swimming”
Whether in salt or fresh water, fish belong in their natural habitats, not tiny tanks. Many “exotic” fish are captured from their natural homes, adversely affecting biodiversity and face a high death rate as the pet trade ships them about in tiny plastic tubs.
You can help clever, social fish by never keeping one captive in a tank— and remembering that “fish are friends, not food”.
Cassowaries
If you’ve ever ventured into the Australian rainforest, you may have been cautioned about cassowaries. These giant dinosaur-like birds are known to be territorial and dangerous, but cassowaries are shy and only dangerous if provoked. They’re also fantastic fathers, hatching and raising chicks all alone !
Keep Cassowaries from Extinction
Habitat loss is the greatest threat to cassowaries, whose Queensland homes are being decimated to accommodate cattle and sheep used for beef and wool . By eating vegan food and wearing plant wool, you can also help cassowaries and other Aussie animals.
Seahorses
There’s probably not a female parent on the planet who hasn’t wished the male of the species could carry the babies at some point during their pregnancy, but this dream is a reality for seahorses.
Australia is home to at least 17 species of seahorse , and in all cases, the father carries the babies. Mum deposits eggs into the male’s pouch, leaving dad to fertilise, incubate, and birth the babies, with a gestation period of 14-28 days.
Save Seahorses
Seahorses are among the many victims of the fishing industry ; caught in fishing nets as bycatch and tangled in ghost nets discarded by fishers. Choosing vegan fish helps keep seahorses with their families.
Crocodiles
While the Australian saltwater crocodiles cruelly farmed for their skins by the fashion industry leave the parenting to mum, their abuse still decimates families. Eggs and young crocs are removed from nests and raised on filthy factory farms for “luxury” goods.
Plus, when you buy animal skin, you never know whose it is. For example, critically endangered Gharial crocodiles, who are sometimes killed for their skins, are doting dads who create creches for their young and carry them on their heads .
Give Crocs a Chance
Self-described “designer” items made from reptile skins label you cruel, not luxe. Choose soft leather made from plants instead and urge Hermès to drop croc!
Ask Hermès to Stop Fuelling Horrific Crocodile-Skin Industry
What about the ultimate Aussie Dad, Bandit ?
No list of animal dads would be complete without Bandit, patriarch of Australia’s favourite cartoon family, The Heelers from the TV show, Bluey.
While Bandit is patient, empathetic, and gentle with young Bluey and Bingo, real blue heeler dogs aren’t famed for being doting dads—although they are protective of their families, including any humans lucky enough to live with them.
Whether or not real-life Bandit would win Father of the Year, dogs like him are languishing in Aussie shelters right now, so you can help dogs by adopting, not shopping!
Make Every Day Special for Animals
If reflecting on the special family bonds that all species share has inspired you to save animals, join our 30-day vegan challenge for a month of tips and facts to help you pursue a kinder, greener life!
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