As a Mother’s Day tribute, here are some photographs of mothers in the animal kingdom! Enjoy!

Here is a lioness with her cub, National reserve Pilanesberg, South Africa
photo credit: Gabriela Stebler
In this photograph a lion cub rubs its mother’s neck, begging for milk.

Elephants in Corbett National Park, India
photo credit: Yagdip Rajput

Mountain gorillas, national parks of Rwanda.
photo credit: Rita Summers
A small mountain gorilla sucking his mothers thumb.

Polar bears in  Vapusk, Manitoba, Canada
photo credit: Howard Ruby

The baboons in the Selinda Reserve, Botswana
photo credit: Adrian Beeyli

A mother cheetah and cubs in the Masai Mara, Kenya
photo credit: Eberhard Brunner

Bald eagles, Katmai, Alaska
photo credit: John Hunter
“Hiding on a nearby cliff pays off with this a touching snapshot of a mother, feeding their chicks.”

Deer in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
photo credit: Wil Hershberger
A young fawn jumping on its mothers back to get a better look.

Sea Lions, Espanola Island, Galapagos Islands
photo credit: Eddie Schermerhorn

Brown Bears Lake Clark, Alaska
photo credit: Rick Rasmussen

How Much Do Animals Sleep?

via Neuroscience for Kids – Animal Sleep.

The toughest dog on the planet makes its debut at Westminster.

By Richard B. Woodward|Posted Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at 2:02 PM ET

The Plott hound, one of four breeds making its debut on the green carpet this week at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, is unlikely to melt the hearts of television viewers. In pose-offs against bassets and dachshunds, two of its cuddlier rivals in the hound group, it will be hard for the high-strung animals to look anything but ill at ease. Weighing 50 to 60 pounds, with a homely mien, a thin, brindled coat, and a sinewy profile, they aren’t noticeably prepossessing or much good as indoor pets.

READ MORE via The Plott hound, the ninja warrior of dogdom. – Slate Magazine.

Genetic testing determined that a mountain lion killed on a highway in Milford, Conn., last month was originally from a population in the Black Hills of South Dakota, officials reported Tuesday.

“The journey of this mountain lion is a testament to the wonders of nature and the tenacity and adaptability of this species,” Daniel Esty, head of the state’s environmental protection agency, said in a statement. “This mountain lion traveled a distance of more than 1,500 miles from its original home in South Dakota — representing one of the longest movements ever recorded for a land mammal and nearly double the distance ever recorded for a dispersing mountain lion.”

The same mountain lion, or cougar, had been tracked in Minnesota and Wisconsin, explaining part of its journey across the country.

“The confirmation of a wild mountain lion in our state was the first recorded in more than 100 years,” Esty said. “This is the first evidence of a mountain lion making its way to Connecticut from western states and there is still no evidence indicating that there is a native population of mountain lions in Connecticut.”

Mountain lions seldom travel more than 100 miles as they seek their own territory as well as companionship.

READ MORE via Cougar run over in Conn. had traveled 1,500 miles – TODAY News – TODAY.com.