Uganda Chimpanzees Groom Red-Tailed Monkey, Hinting at Early Pet-Keeping in 1 Study
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 18
Uganda Chimpanzees Groom Red-Tailed Monkey, Hinting at Early Pet-Keeping in 1 Study
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 18
Summary
Ishe and Dembe—two young eastern chimpanzees in a Ugandan reserve—were seen calmly caressing and combing a red-tailed monkey’s tail instead of attacking it.
The Primates study says the rare encounter may mark an early stage of pet-keeping behavior, suggesting humans are not unique in caring for other species.
Researchers frame that as a clue to a long-standing evolutionary puzzle: pet relationships can demand food, shelter and care despite offering no obvious survival payoff.
Earlier work by the same research team documented 427 social interactions between 88 primate species and 127 non-primate species, with play and grooming most common, broadening the case for deep primate roots of human-animal bonds.