It's one of the hardest things to accept in life: mothers know a thing or two.

Award-winning Australian photographer Alex Cearns has captured the special relationship between many mother and baby animals over the years, and finds them uncannily like humans. There are puppies and kittens who are more interested in playing up than playing nicely; baby birds who squawk for more food when they've just been fed; and adorable bunnies and ducklings who are on the lookout for trouble.

These arresting and entertaining images reveal and celebrate the love, patience and guidance of all mothers, great and small.