Their are many scriptures in the Bible that claim God is a protector of animals in that he has laid down laws to protect the animals. As the O.P. points out animals suffer many of the afflictions humans have , then why is that ?
Maybe that is all bullshit that he cares about animals. .Consider a few pointers .
God has shown his thirst for blood when he approved Abel`s sacrifice over Cain`s { surely the first fruits of the earth should have satisfied a God ?}
He destroyed every living animal and bird life in the world in the flood of Noah`s day { apparently not marine life }
And throughout the Old Testament God has continually sought blood sacrifices of bulls,Sheep ,Birds ,
1 Kings 8:63-66 , 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep slaughtered to inaugurate the house of Jehovah {a bit of an overkill don`t you think?}
Animals are supposed to act on instinct that the creator instilled in them right ?
How do bears know that their are Salmon migrating up river to spawn and they prey on them at the right time ?
How do birds know that their are fish in the ocean that they can dive in and feed off ?
How do land animals know their is food for them in the ocean or rivers if it is not already instilled in them from creation by God.
Isa.11:6-9 It has never been the case and will never be the case ,animals ,bird life and marine life never had anything to do with the so called fall of man and their is no justification for their suffering that they do .