What’s more adorable than a baby animal? A baby animal trying to take its first steps. These cute critters get up and get going very early.Human babies need almost constant care during their first few years of life. Most animals, however, become independent far earlier.
Some—called precocial animals—can even walk and feed themselves shortly after they’re born.The word precocial is related to the word precocious,
which refers to youngsters who do things a lot earlier than you expect. Many (but not all) precocial animals have hooves, and there’s a very simple, very logical explanation for this.
“These are prey animals, and they need to be able to move with the pack, especially when they are under attack,” explains Sara Ochoa, DVM, a veterinary consultant.
While early walking is a survival mechanism, it is also pretty darn cute to watch—as are the following baby animals attempting it.
