05 Animals that mate for life

Love is in the air – especially for these perfect pairs. Get into the Valentine’s Day spirit and join us as we crush on some of the cutest couples in the animal world

1. Swan!
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   Though beautiful and graceful, swans are fierce creatures that work together to protect their baby cygnets from harm. Some are known to mate for life, forming strong bonds for years to come. However, if issues arise such as nesting failures, the swan will move on to another mate.
2. Black Vulture
   
   Black Vultures are monogamous, as pairs remain together year-round and are believed to mate for life. Families bond closer to each other than to unrelated individuals. Unlike most birds, black vultures do not build nests. Instead, they lay their eggs in hollow logs, caves, and crevices.
3. Macaw
   
   The beautiful and vibrantly colored Macaw is a social bird that gathers in flocks of up to 30 individuals. However, they have their love locked on one. Macaws typically mate for life and these relationships will go beyond basic breeding—they are known to share food and even groom their counterpart.
4. Seahorse
   
   Seahorses are unlike many underwater creatures, not only because they mate for life but also because they are one of the few species in which the males give birth. Male seahorses have a pouch on their ventral, which is where the female will deposit her eggs during mating. The male then fertilizes the eggs internally and carries them until they hatch.
5. Gentoo Penguin
   
   Many penguin species are mostly monogamous, forming life long bonds. During breeding season, couples meet in large colonies of up to a thousand birds where both parents work together to build their nest and take turns incubating their egg.