<p>A harp seal mother and her pup bond on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Newborn pups gain five pounds a day in their first few weeks of life.</p>

A harp seal mother and her pup bond on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Newborn pups gain five pounds a day in their first few weeks of life.

Photograph by Jennifer Hayes, Nat Geo Image Collection

'Bad moms' of the animal kingdom are only trying to survive

From ants that drink their larvae's blood to seals that abandon their pups, many species have questionable parenting styles.

As you celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, be thankful that you weren’t born to a Dracula ant.

The queens of this species, known for having the fastest bite on Earth, also stand out for feeding on their babies’ blood. (See photos of animal moms and offspring.)

Many animal mothers adopt parenting styles that would make any human mom cringe. Yet there are reasons for their seemingly harsh behaviors, such as limited resources.

Here's a closer look at the motivations behind some so-called “bad moms” of the animal world.

Native to the Chilean Andes, this reptile mom protects her young for their first 48 hours, then abandons them in their den—along with a pile of her poop.

Not only is this

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