Adrian Davies / Cow (Bos taurus) cleaning new-born calf. Shetland, Scotland, UK.

Adrian Davies / Cow (Bos taurus) consuming afterbirth following birth of calf. Shetland, Scotland, UK, May.

Pete Oxford / Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) female giving birth to pup, on sandly shore, with Sheathbill scavenging afterbirth, Sea Lion Island. South of mainland east Falkland Island. Falkland Islands

Piper Mackay / Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas / Gazella thomsoni) eating afterbirth, with newborn baby, Masai Mara, Kenya

Jane Burton / British show pony mare giving birth, mare starting to eat the afterbirth, sequence 14/26

Brian Lightfoot / Red deer female with newborn calf {Cervus elaphus} eating afterbirth, UK, captive

Anup Shah / Seagull feeds on afterbirth of newborn Cape Fur Seal pup (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) Cape Cross Seal Reserve, Namibia

Philippe Clement / Springbok eating afterbirth {Antidorcas marsupialis} Kalahari Gemsbok South Africa

Michio Hoshino / Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) of the Porcupine Herd, mother consuming afterbirth with newborn calf nearby, Arctic National Wildlife, Alaska

Anup Shah / Newborn Impala (Aepyceros melampus) suckling as mother cleans off afterbirth, Masai Mara NR, Kenya

Katherine Feng / Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Gongzhu licking her vulva and eating afterbirth after giving birth, common postpartum behavior, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong...

Katherine Feng / Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Gongzhu licking her vulva and eating afterbirth after giving birth, common postpartum behavior, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong...