. . . just not necessarily that of the particular offspring present at the time.
Consider the case where there are already more mature offspring, and a famine is in progress: the kittens are
more likely doomed than the older offspring, and a drain on the food supply, thus increasing the risk to the
older ones.
Consider the case where one or more of the kittens has presented with a disease: their continued presence may
once again pose a risk to more mature offspring, with therwise better odds of survival.
Harsh? Yes. That's life in "the jungle". We're insulated from it, somewhat, because our big brains, with
their greater cognitive capacity, afford us a slightly wider variety of survival strategies.
--
HadEnuf? |
