Weekend readers' pictures: nurture

Andrew Hill: “Just one of the many spring arrivals of coot, getting a few last-minute pointers on the local pond” Photograph: Andrew Hill

Chris Pippard: “I was privileged to be able to see and photograph many wonderful creatures on the ­Galapagos earlier this year, but it was this pup, showing such ­affection to its mother, that ­grabbed me” Photograph: Chris Pippard

Jon Roberts: “Taken in a park at Kowloon Reservoir, Hong Kong, where thousands of macaques live. They’re all descended from ­escaped or released pets, and show no fear of people. This youngster was ­interested in me, but mum was oblivious” Photograph: Jon Roberts

Emma Dawkins: “Our daughter, Nema, at two, acting out breastfeeding her baby. Seems our nurturing of her has such an influence even at so tender an age” Photograph: Emma Dawkins

Anne Hutchison: "The sheer pride and pleasure we took in our first ever allotment yield was not overshadowed by the low volume of our crop - onward and upwards!" Photograph: Anne Hutchison

Coleen Pope: "While travelling through a rural area of northern South Africa, to our surprise, laying on the side of the main road was Mother Pig nurturing her babies. She seemed unperturbed by our presence" Photograph: Coleen Pope

Ian Nolan: "Mother keeping a lookout while her youngsters feed. Meerkats always seem to be posing for the camera, but this was a opportunity for a variation on the standard view" Photograph: Ian Nolan

Mat Ricardo: "I was performing in a variety theatre in Essen, Germany and caught this picture of my comedy partner Dave and his daughter Scout watching the finale of the late night show from the wings of the theatre, lit just by the stage lights" Photograph: Mat Ricardo

Sally Baitch: "I took this photo a couple of weeks ago at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka whilst on holiday. I was so moved watching the elephants at bathing time, specifically seeing the obvious joy, affection, and nurturing relationship between mum and calf" Photograph: Sally Baitch

Richard Gatward: "Tending the young: this Bhuddist monk in the hill top temple at Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand, is probably the single reason for the vast numbers of wild monkeys living there, he seems to have a paternal relationship with the young ones" Photograph: Richard Gatward