Why Do Animals Have Sharp Teeth?

God tells us in Genesis that everything was very good when he first created the world. He even told us that all the animals were originally vegetarian. If that’s true, why are there so many animals with really sharp teeth and really sharp claws?

If Creation Originally Had No Death, Why Do Animals Have Sharp Teeth?

In this video, our zoo animal programs manager, Karina Altman, reveals the answer by introducing you to some of our Ararat Ridge Zoo animals that have sharp teeth and claws but eat lots of plants.

Tiki the kinkajou, Felix the sloth, and RJ the tegu are examples that show not all animals with sharp teeth and claws are meat eaters. That coincides with what God tells us in Genesis about all animals starting as vegetarians in his very good world.

“And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food’” (Genesis 1:29).

It’s because of people and our sin that the world is currently broken. But it’s not always going to be this way. God promises that one day he is going to restore all of creation so that:

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6).

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today, and be sure to stop by the Ararat Ridge Zoo, which is included with your admission, to learn more about God’s amazing creation.