The mother chimpanzee can handle playing, the study showed

Harvesting under the fruit trees, even the adult members of the chimpanzee herd are rejuvenated to play age.

If the search for food becomes more laborious, however, the adults’ desire to play fades – except for the mothers.

They play with their young almost as vigorously even in bad times, a ten-year follow-up in Kibale National Park in Uganda found.

Researchers from the United States and Uganda analyzed nearly 4,000 situations in which adult chimpanzees played.

If there were enough nutritious fruits, the whole herd of dozens gathered together and joked with each other.

In times of scarcity, we spread out so that the food portions would be more sufficient. Back then, only chicks and mothers had enough energy to caress, and they retreated to small groups or to their own conditions.

Adult chimpanzees apparently play to keep the pack harmonious.

However, the boy has another need: to develop his social and physical skills. Your own mother, who is always present, helps best with that. The study was published in the journal Current Biology.

Published in Science in Nature 6/2024