When we talk about love and loyalty in the animal kingdom, swans and penguins usually steal the spotlight. They mate for life, share parenting duties, and seem to be the epitome of romantic commitment. But not all animals are cut from the same loyal cloth.
In fact, many are out here living double lives, cheating, sneaking around, and abandoning their mates. Unlike humans, there’s no heartbreak, no text messages left on read, no crying to Adele playlists. Just pure instinct, and a lot of sneaky behaviour.
Here are five animals that cheat on their partners and somehow, no one calls them out.
1. Bonobos
Bonobos cheat with whoever they want: male, female, young, old. In bonobo society, loyalty isn’t expected. In fact, monogamy doesn’t even exist in their vocabulary. If there were a Tinder for apes, bonobos would swipe right on everybody.
2. The Male Superb Fairy-Wren
What makes this even juicier is that these side-flings often result in more chicks than the ones he has with his primary mate. Scientists found that up to 76% of the babies in a nest may not belong to the supposed father. But he still raises them anyway.
3. Dolphins
But even when a pair forms a bond, the male often “cheats”. In the dolphin world, monogamy is more of a temporary convenience than a lifelong commitment. It’s less “till death do us part” and more “until someone sexier swims by.”
4. Antbirds
But the issue now is, if one bird hears a stranger singing nearby, they’ll ditch the duet and go flirt with the outsider. Researchers found that both males and females cheat, even though they sing about loyalty daily. It’s like watching a couple do TikToks together, then DM other people afterwards.
5. Lions
It’s a calculated move. By mating with multiple males, lionesses protect their cubs. If there’s any doubt about paternity, a new alpha might hesitate before killing them, which is common when males take over a pride. Cheating here is more about survival.
