Cannibalism is considered taboo and horrifying. However, some animal species have the habit of eating their own offspring. Cases of cannibalism can be found in several bird, mammal, and spider species. In fact, one out of three mammal species kills their own offspring. It is known that this is influenced by environmental conditions. Here are various animals that have the habit of eating their own offspring and the reasons, summarized from various sources, on Monday (17/06/2024).

Female of this species can be impregnated by several males at once, carrying many eggs but only having two wombs. As a result, many embryos eat each other until only two remain. This habit has an evolutionary purpose. Through regular mating, adult males do not compete fiercely for breeding, but cannibalism in the womb results in a smaller and stronger gene pool. The nutrition from this process also ensures that the sand tiger sharks born are stronger and capable of survival.

Cannibalism usually involves larger male bears attacking vulnerable female bears and bear cubs. However, polar bear mothers at the Nuremberg Zoo also eat their hungry offspring after zookeepers try to reduce human contact with them.

This can make the chicken like eggs and share them. In addition, many animals eat their offspring because of calcium deficiency, which also makes the eggshell fragile.

"Lions that acquire new pride typically kill offspring to eliminate competition and induce females to become receptive again. Sometimes, mothers also kill and eat their young after they die, to start afresh with new offspring. Usually, infanticide by males is more commonly observed."

The reason for this brutal behavior varies. First, it provides more resources for the killer and also allows the grieving parent more time to raise their large family after a brief mourning period. There is also a hypothesis that this prevents siblings from doing the same thing. Despite their tendency to kill babies, grassland dogs are fascinating and highly endangered creatures that are important to their ecosystem.

"To master food, chimpanzees will kill the offspring of opposing groups, divide the meat, and eat it in the trees. Males often steal newborn infants from their mothers, kill them, and consume the infants to increase their chances of breeding. Although rare, females are also seen killing unrelated infants."

Cannibalism is not common in the animal world, but it causes female chimpanzees to tend to hide during childbirth. Killing infants outside territorial disputes is considered a way for males to increase their reproductive opportunities, rather than reducing future competition.

However, if the number of eggs is not sufficient, male blennies sometimes eat their eggs out of boredom. Researchers initially thought this was due to nutritional value, but it turns out to be a biological necessity for more effective reproduction. The level of androgen in male blennies is related to the presence of eggs, and if the eggs are few, they will eat or discard them to mate again quickly. This usually happens if the number of eggs is less than a thousand, and often the male blenny has already found a new partner the next day.