A 'Wild' Father's Day: The Cutest Baby Animals... and Their Dads
Father’s Day is almost here — time to celebrate dads everywhere. But who says human dads are the only ones who deserve props on this special day? Being a good dad is a full-time job for many species. Along with our friends at the tour operators Abercrombie & Kent, Yahoo! Travel presents this look at some of the good dads, and adorable little ones, you can see out in the wild.
Best Dad Snuggler: Sea Lions
(All Photos: Abercrombie & Kent)
This cub is safe and secure on the sand next to his old man sea lion on the Galapagos Islands. You can take a seven-day cruise through this truly Darwinian landscape, where you’ll find tortoises, iguanas and, of course, sleepy sea lions.
Best Dad Used For Napping: Gentoo Penguins
This gentoo penguin chick looks pretty comfy with his dad as they lounge around in Antarctica. Not only can you see daddy penguins during excursions to this most elusive of continents, you might also see humpback whales, orcas, and elephant seals.
Best Leader Dad: East African Elephants
Where Dad goes, this baby elephant also goes as they roam the beautiful terrain in Kenya. During your dream safari, you can see other pachyderms at Daphne Sheldrick’s famous elephant orphanage in Nairobi. Here, small elephants who, unlike the lucky little guy in this picture, have neither a dad nor a mom are cared for until they can be returned to the wild.
Best Dad for Giggles: Gorillas
This mountain gorilla is the cool dad who likes to have fun with the young ones. These are very family-focused primates; the dads spend a lot of time corralling the rambunctious toddlers. You can watch these endangered creatures and their fascinating family interactions as you tour Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Best Transportation Dad: Baboons
He may be a baboon, but a “piggyback” ride for Junior isn’t out of the question for this dad. He’s a little busy at the moment so you’ll have to find another mode of transportation at Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park. During day-long “game drives” through the grassy, wide-open landscape, you can also spot wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and exotic birds.
Best “Let’s Go on an Adventure” Dad: Leopards
This daddy leopard isn’t the only one on the go at Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve, aka the “Predator Capital of the World.” Lots of different species — rhinos, leopards, buffalo, etc. — are celebrating Father’s Day on this sprawling reserve. That includes this dad here, although his gift will probably be another leopard-print tie.
