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Behavioral response of a chimpanzee mother toward her dead infant
Author(s) -
Cronin Katherine A.,
van Leeuwen Edwin J.C.,
Mulenga Innocent Chitalu,
Bodamer Mark D.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.20927
Subject(s) - offspring , developmental psychology , psychology , dead body , medicine , biology , pregnancy , genetics , autopsy , pathology
The mother–offspring bond is one of the strongest and most essential social bonds. Following is a detailed behavioral report of a female chimpanzee 2 days after her 16‐month‐old infant died, on the first day that the mother is observed to create distance between her and the corpse. A series of repeated approaches and retreats to and from the body are documented, along with detailed accounts of behaviors directed toward the dead infant by the mother and other group members. The behavior of the mother toward her dead infant not only highlights the maternal contribution to the mother–infant relationship but also elucidates the opportunities chimpanzees have to learn about the sensory cues associated with death, and the implications of death for the social environment. Am. J. Primatol. 73:415–421, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.