Johnson: Thanks to the fathers out there

In search of ponies

link Sharna Johnson

When it comes to the natural world, fathers don’t tend to get cast in the greatest light and often fatherhood is seen as more of a single act than ongoing job.

In critter circles, most dads are known for putting a lot of effort into the wooing part — impressing, courting, fighting for and working hard to win the ladies. After that, the general perception is they merely do the deed and go on to other gratifying pursuits, namely, more of the same.

And it’s really not a misconception. Like it or not, in animal world, fatherhood is often a single event more than a state of mind, with mothers left to nurture and prepare future generations while their male counterparts go on to contribute more branches to the family tree.

Even in the human world, the concept of fatherhood is one that undergoes perceptual changes, and though the family unit has been a historical constant, the idea of what constitutes quality fathers changes over time.

Even though Mother’s Day is 107 years old, Father’s Day was only recognized as a U.S. holiday in 1972. It turns out recognizing mothers was easy, but in the not-so-distant past, creating a special day for dads was a tough sell to men who resented what they saw as an attempt to commercialize and domesticate them with a sentimental holiday.

They may want to maintain a tougher persona, however fathers have always been a cornerstone of family and there are plenty of fathers in both the animal and human worlds who do a lot more than just make an initial contribution to their species.

• Not only are rhea fellas invested in adding to the family tree, they have great follow-through. A rhea male cares for the nest where he incubates the eggs of his multiple lady friends, sometimes hatching up to 60 chicks, which he then guards and cares for completely on his own.

• The wolf is a prime example of a father who maintains his masculinity while protecting his lady and the kiddos. When newborn pups join the family, wolf fathers guard the den and hunt for food so the mother wolf can care for the little ones. When the kids are ready to see the world, Dad is there to show them the ropes and discipline them.

• Likewise, red fox fathers are highly involved in the raising of their children. Not only do they hunt for the family and see to the physical needs, red fox dads are also known to groom and comfort as well as entertain and occupy the children by taking them on walks and playing with them.

• Penguin dads spend months keeping an egg warm by holding it between their feet and belly in freezing temperatures. During the incubation time, Dad doesn’t even eat because he is so focused on keeping his precious egg from being exposed to the cold.

• Marmoset papas are full-timers, taking over care of infants as soon as they are born. They may be little as monkeys go, but they do a big job by carrying, grooming, feeding, nurturing and teaching their children, who are almost always born in pairs.

This Father’s Day it might be a good idea to take a minute to say thanks, because they may not seek or even get the recognition they deserve, but rest assured, the world is full of dads who cart the kids around, prepare meals, comfort, wipe tears, teach, entertain and protect their little ones — and they do a heck of a job.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at:

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