18 beautiful photos of motherhood in the animal kingdom

A cheetah with her cubs.WLDavies/Getty Images

• Whether they're doing it by themselves or with help from others, these animal mothers protect and raise their young.
• Female cheetahs and polar bears will raise their cubs alone with little help from their male counterparts.
• Sperm whales and African elephants live in groups that help raise the offspring together.
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Mom knows best, and that's true in the animal kingdom, too. Mothers in the natural world raise their offspring and instill in them the skills they need for survival — sometimes alone and sometimes with the help of a group.

Photographers around the world have captured these incredible relationships in play, from a mother panda gently nuzzling her tiny cub, to a momma dolphin guiding her offspring through the water.

Ahead of Mother's Day, here are 18 beautiful photos of motherhood in the animal kingdom.