Two bonobos engaging in a friendly interaction at the Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary, showcasing the development of social skills and empathy in orphaned apes.
Orphaned apes affected by the illegal bushmeat and pet trade can recover from trauma and acquire social abilities similar to those raised by their mothers.
A recent study conducted by Durham University, UK, delved into the impact of rehabilitation at the world’s sole bonobo sanctuary on the emotional and social growth of orphaned bonobos over a decade. The results have been documented in Royal Society Open Science.
Bonobos, closely related to humans along with chimpanzees, are native to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The distressing experiences of losing their mothers early on and being taken captive by humans can severely hinder their social development.
The research aimed to assess how rehabilitation at Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary influenced the emotional intelligence and sociability of orphaned bonobos compared to those reared by their biological mothers at various stages of life.
The study focused on tracking changes in empathy levels, social interactions, and aggressive behaviors among male and female bonobos throughout their lifespan.
Despite displaying lower levels of sociability compared to mother-reared counterparts, orphaned bonobos exhibited some typical species-specific behaviors indicative of progress towards developing essential social skills.
2024-12-17 21:15:02
Post sourced from phys.org