“We shouldn’t completely abandon the idea that bonobos are peaceful,” explains Maud Mouginot, an anthropologist at Boston University and lead author of the study. “This study highlights a more nuanced reality for both species.”
Past studies have examined aggression in these primates, but this is the first direct comparison using the same methods. The study focuses on male aggression, which is often associated with “breeding,” but recognizes the need for future research on female aggression in both species. Researchers observed three bonobo communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and two chimpanzee communities in Tanzania. They followed 12 bonobos and 14 chimpanzees for a day; They recorded all aggressive interactions, including target, physical force (biting, pushing, chasing), and social context.
Surprisingly, male bonobos showed 2.8 times higher levels of aggression than chimpanzees; physical aggression was three times the level observed in chimpanzees. Interestingly, while bonobo aggression was almost exclusively directed at other males, chimpanzees were more likely to attack females. Chimpanzees also showed a greater tendency to form aggressive “coalitions” (13.2% vs. 1% for bonobos). The researchers suggest that such coalitions may explain the lower overall level of aggression in chimpanzees. Fights between several males can cause injuries, and internal fights can weaken the group in the face of external threats. Bonobos appear to be less susceptible to this problem because of their one-on-one sparring and lack of territoriality.
Future research now aims to assess the severity of aggressive interactions and extend observations to other chimpanzee and bonobo groups to identify possible differences between communities and subspecies.
Source: Ferra
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