According to a study, bonobos form friendships with individuals outside of their own group and exhibit behaviors of mutual aid and support, similar to how humans behave.

According to scientists, wild bonobos demonstrate the ability to form strategic alliances by making friends and providing assistance to individuals outside of their social group. This challenges the notion that only humans possess this capability.

Scientists have discovered that this endangered species of ape displays “remarkable levels of tolerance” among members of different groups. They frequently engage in activities such as traveling, eating, and resting together.

These altruistic primates do not engage in random interactions, instead choosing to establish close relationships with a select few and share resources, similar to how humans interact in societies.

According to the team, this stands in direct opposition to chimpanzees – another closely related species to humans – where interactions between different groups are frequently hostile and deadly violence is not uncommon.

According to Martin Surbeck, a member of the faculty at Harvard University specializing in human evolutionary biology and the main author of the study, bonobos display a preference for engaging with particular individuals from other groups who are more likely to reciprocate, leading to close connections among those who exhibit pro-social behavior.

These connections are crucial elements of the collaboration observed in human societies.

The researchers are certain that their discoveries, which were released in the publication Science, can provide insight into the development of intricate behaviors such as cooperation and conflict among humans.

Professor Surbeck stated that bonobos demonstrate that maintaining peaceful relationships with other groups and exhibiting pro-social behavior towards those outside of their group is not exclusive to humans.

Most studies on primate behavior have primarily centered on chimpanzees, as they are more accessible for research compared to bonobos, which reside in isolated areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to scientists, previous theories of human evolution have suggested that aggression and violence are inherent traits due to the aggressive nature of chimpanzees.

Prof Surbeck and his team collaborated with the Mongandu people of Kokolopori, a group of villages in Djolu territory of Tshuapa province, to establish the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve for their research.

During a period of 24 months, they monitored two minor clusters of bonobos, consisting of a combined 31 adult individuals, who spent approximately 20% of their time in each other’s company.

After reviewing 95 instances, the scientists discovered that members of separate groups participated in amicable and collaborative exchanges.

Bonobos from separate groups were observed engaging in grooming behavior, sharing food, and forming alliances with each other.

The primates also participated in confrontations, but these conflicts did not result in death.

Liran Samuni, a researcher from the German Primate Center in Gottingen, Germany, and the primary author of this research, stated: “Through monitoring and studying various bonobo groups in Kokolopori, we were amazed by the exceptional levels of acceptance among members of different groups.”

This level of acceptance allows for positive social interactions, including making alliances and sharing resources between different groups. This is drastically different from the behavior observed in chimpanzees.

The researchers discovered that their study on bonobos indicates that ongoing conflicts between nearby groups may not be solely attributed to humans and may not be an unavoidable part of evolution.

The study revealed that cooperation between individuals from different groups without immediate benefit is not limited to humans. This suggests that cooperation can develop without the influence of social norms or cultural beliefs.

Source: independent.co.uk