Just like humans, baboons care for their babies too. [Kipsang Joseph/Standard]
Having close bonds with the opposite sex can have non-romantic benefits, not just for humans, but also for their primate cousins, according to a new research done in Kenya.
The study, done after analysing data for 35 years on more than 540 baboons in Amboseli National Park, found that male baboons that have close female friends have higher rates of survival than those who don’t.
Researchers have often assumed that when a male is friendlier to certain females, it is for the reproductive perks; to protect its offspring, or to boost its chances of mating. But the new study points to an additional potential benefit of female friends helping males live a longer life.
The team’s findings have been published in a special issue of the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. It is titled Social Bonds, Social Status, and Survival in Wild Baboons: A Tale of Two Sexes.
The researchers said it is well-known that people who have close friendships are more likely to live a long life than those who don’t. Many human studies show that making and keeping friends can be as important for longevity as losing weight and getting exercise.
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