Why do animals grow faster than humans?

Answer 1

It's all about finding out what works for them, and different species have found different solutions.

Cheetahs are fast but not very strong. They hunt alone by catching up with a prey, and then eating as much as they can before a stronger species will scare them away from their kill. They'll go for small-to-mid-sized Gazelles mostly. Works for them.

Leopards are stronger but slower. They also hunt alone, but are experts at ambushing their prey. They're also strong enough to hoist their kills into trees, where there's less risk of it being stolen from them. That method works for them.

Lions are even stronger, hunt in packs and will usually go for bigger prey. With the help of the pack, they don't need the speed of the cheetah, or the ambush skills of the leopard.

The plant eaters have also opted for different approaches. One option is to grow big enough to be safe, as applied by Elephants, Rhinos and Hippos. Another is to always be a part of a big group, as with zebras, wildebeests, and most of the gazelles. Or you might opt for being small and staying hidden in undergrowth. Or something else.

Answer 2

We humans are a specie of extremely developed beings, the reaping the benefits of thousands of years of nature's trial by error evolution. Our brain is really what allowed us to flourish as a population, learn to walk on two legs, create complex thought patterns, and figure out how to build and create. Because humans require so much brain power, our developmental stage is longer than animals.

In addition, by developing opposable thumbs, allowing us to grasp things, and a super-developed brain able to work through problems, shelters were found and created. Increasingly efficient, these shelters allowed us to hide our young with more protection than burrows, nests. dens, and reefs. This eliminated the need for infants to reach adulthood very quickly.

Answer 3

Animals typically have shorter lifespans and need to reach maturity quickly in order to survive and reproduce. This drives them to grow faster than humans, who have longer lifespans and a longer period of development and growth. Additionally, animals have different metabolic rates and genetic factors that contribute to their faster growth compared to humans.

Answer 4

Plants.