7 Animals That Prove 'Forever' is Real in Mating

Many believe in the common misconception that a loving romantic relationship is a bond mutually exclusive only to humans. But, they couldn't be more wrong. There are animals who subscribe to the idea of monogamy. They find a single partner and mate with them for the rest of their lives.

Well, it's still unclear if these animals share the exact same bonds as humans do. But, they surely stick with each other until the end.

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These animals are:

Gibbons

These small apes have relationships that can mirror those of humans, in that couples do cheat, breakup, and even "remarry." Relationships aren't easy, even for these monogamous animals. For the primate couples that do stay together, they groom each other and equally help raise their children.

Puffins

"Puffins usually breed with the same mate each year," notes wildlife expert Richard James on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds website. Paired-up puffins don't necessarily stay together year-round, though. According to James, "puffins spend about six months at sea," and "it is not known whether the breeding pairs stay together over the winter."

Seahorse

Long before male seahorses carry their babies in the pouch on their stomachs, they flirt with potential mates by intertwining tails and dancing around each other.

On the other hand, female seahorses can get jealous and compete with each other for a certain male. Seahorses generally have a relatively short lifespan, so monogamy might not be quite the same commitment as it is for these aquatic animals that live forever.

Barn Owl

Some 90 percent of birds are socially monogamous, but that doesn't mean they're entirely faithful to one mate. Barn owls, however, put all their eggs in one basket. Males woo females with screeches and gifts of dead mice. If the female responds with croaking sounds, she's basically saying, "I do."

Gray Wolf

It's usually "til death" for wolves. In the wild, they start breeding by the age of two. Mated pairs build their wolf pack by having a new litter every year. (Most wolves don't experience reproductive senescence, either, and can have babies until they die.) So when you see a lone wolf, have some sympathy. He's single and looking for love, mourning his dead partner, or, in extreme cases, nursing a breakup with the pack.

Eagles

Long-distance relationships aren't easy, but bald eagles thrive in them. The birds fly solo during winter and migration, reconnecting with their mates each breeding season. Most eagles pair off by the age of five and stay together for at least 20 years.

The same behavior can also be observed with other eagle species like the Philippine Monkey Eating Eagle.

Swans

There's a reason why swans have become a symbol of love. When these monogamous animals court, they curve their necks toward each other in a heart shape, lift their wings, and bow. However, the grunting and hissing noises they make in the process are less romantic. But that doesn't stop them from spending the rest of their lives together.

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