Female empowerment - in the animal kingdom
On International Women's Day women and their achievements are in the spotlight. But why should this celebration be limited to humans? Here are five species where females dominate.
Multi-tasking honeybees
Bees - and other insects - are vital to us humans, as they pollinate about one-third of our food crops. While thousands of working bees take care of our food supply, they also find the time to do beehive chores. Needless to say, the leader of the bunch is Queen Bee.
Super grandma
Female orcas can live well into their 90s but for the second half of their life they are no longer able to procreate. As orca females age, they take on the role of the grandmother and become an asset to the whole group. They offer extra protection to the baby whales and because they know the ropes on hunting, they ensure the next generation's survival.
Girl Squad
Who said males have to be in charge? Elephant groups are all about female empowerment. While the male elephants tend to live in isolation, the females run a socially complex herd. A matriarch leads the group and when a calf is born, the group takes care of it together. It's the perfect combination of work and maternity leave, all thanks to the squad.
The Godmother
Every aspect of meerkat life is ruled by one dominant matriarch. Social life and work duties run like clockwork: grooming in the morning, lying in the sun, cleaning their tunnel systems, foraging for food... The godmother is sure to have her mob under control.
Make Love, Not War
Bonobos share more than 98 percent of our DNA with humans but sometimes they seem more advanced than us. Although their societies are led by a dominant female, they are egalitarian. Bonobos tend to be very communicative, caring and compassionate. The lively exchange between the sexes fosters peace among the group.