Five animal species known for kidnapping and abduction

Mother capuchins may briefly carry deceased infants, as a sign of distress (Images: Pexels)

2. Capuchin monkeys

Capuchins, especially white-faced capuchins (C. imitator), are curious and highly social. Adults and even adolescents or subadults occasionally carry infants that aren’t theirs, often as a form of play, parenting practice, or social bonding. While this behaviour usually stays within groups, sometimes interspecies baby theft may lead to fatalities. Also, just like langurs, male capuchin monkeys also kidnap and kill infants during colony takeovers.

3. Lions

When a new male lion takes over a pride, he may kill or remove cubs fathered by the previous male. This behaviour, again, is to ensure that the females come into heat sooner, start reproducing, and carry his genes forward to future generations. Sometimes lionesses may hide the cubs to avoid this infanticide. While tragic for the cubs, it is part of the natural cycle of pride dynamics.

Dolphins occasionally start carrying other species’ calves as well (Images: Pexels)

4. Dolphins

The adorable marine creatures don’t pick others’ calves out of malice, but rather out of maternal instinct or social curiosity. Dolphins would sometimes be seen carrying calves that aren’t theirs, sometimes even from other species. In some rare cases, dolphins have been reported carrying dead calves of other dolphins.

5. Seals and sea lions

In crowded breeding colonies, mother seals and sea lions sometimes mistake other pups for their own and temporarily carry or feed them. This ‘olfactory confusion’ leads them to nurturing others’ babies. There are some reported cases of females who lost their kids, “adopt” orphan kids. While it might seem like theft, it’s usually a mix of confusion and protective instinct.