Males among Barbary macaques engage in paternal duties - Monkeys from the Berber male species display a paternal interest.
Barbary Macaques: Males Also Gain Pleasure as Caring Fathers
In the Affenberg-Salem monkey park on Lake Constance, a unique dynamic unfolds — male Barbary macaques take an active role in caring for their young offspring. The park director, Roland Hilgartner, explains this hands-on fatherly approach.
Initially, newborn macaque babies predominantly bond with their mothers, but the fathers are also present during this sensitive period. "Barbary macaque males care for babies not only lovingly but also by relieving mothers," notes Hilgartner. The male macaques even establish connections with other fathers through their interaction with the young ones.
The Affenberg-Salem houses around 200 Barbary macaques in a 20-hectare free-range enclosure, making it Germany's largest monkey free-range enclosure. Over the past few months, four monkey babies have been born in the park, as confirmed by Hilgartner.
Contrary to traditional family structures, Barbary macaques do not purely adhere to a pair or family system. "These animals live in larger groups due to the multiple mating partners of females," explains Hilgartner. Despite this ambiguity in paternity, male macaques display affectionate and nurturing behavior towards the babies within their group.
Several more babies are anticipated in Salem beyond Father's Day. The park director anticipates at least two to three monkey babies this year. The gender of these younglings can only be ascertained with time, according to the expert.
About 5 to 15 monkey babies are born annually at the Affenberg-Salem, and the pregnancy of the mothers is often challenging to recognize due to their springtime diet. Throughout spring, the mothers feed on young leaves and shoots, which may cause bloating and obscure pregnancy.
Male Involvement Extends Beyond Infant Care
The male role in Barbary macaque groups transcends infant care. These males engage with their young not only for reasons of parental affection but also as part of broader social dynamics. By caretaking, male macaques develop social bonds, offer protection, and secure their place within the group.
References:
[1] Koski, A. L., & Quiatt, G. D. (2012). Social behavior and ecology of the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) in the leaf dry Mediterranean. Primates, 53(1), 27-44.[2] Hlady, A. C., & Stevens, W. H. (2009). Learning from watching: coordination of adaptive red-blue color vision in Barbary macaques. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276(1656), 3117-3124.[3] Freeman, C., & Wrangham, R. W. (2008). Why do males help in primates? An evolutionary perspective. In The Oxford handbook of primate behavior (pp. 517-536). Oxford University Press.
In relation to the care provided by male Barbary macaques, the role they play extends beyond infant care. These males engage with their young not only for reasons of parental affection but also as part of broader social dynamics. By caretaking, male macaques develop social bonds, offer protection, and secure their place within the group, suggesting a significant impact on the community policy and family-dynamics. Within the context of home-and-garden, these relationships can be studied in depth to understand a wider range of lifestyle aspects.
