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Diverse pathways through maternal loss for wild orphan chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Gombe National Park, Tanzania
Diverse pathways through maternal loss for wild orphan chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Gombe National Park, Tanzania
Giuliana M. Centofanti1, Joseph T. Feldblum2, and Elizabeth V. Lonsdorf1
1 Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 2 Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University
Previous research on wild orphaned chimpanzees has focused on survival, lifespan, and adoption by group members, often emphasizing maternal siblings as the primary caregiver. In addition, previous reports have examined relatively short time periods encompassing the first few months post-orphaning. Less is known about longer-term patterns of association and/or association with non-sibling caregivers. We identified 49 cases of orphaning at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Data on dyadic association with group members were available for 21 individuals: 9 belonged to the age class in which non-orphans are permanently associated with their mothers (<6 years old) and 12 belonged to the age class in which individuals are typically weaned and have more independence from their mothers (6-12 years old). We categorized individuals depending on the type of care provided by others in the first 18 months after maternal death: adoption - permanent association; variable care - non-permanent association and caregiving provided by >1 individual; or no care - no consistent primary association partner. Among individuals <6 years of age, 6 (67%) were adopted, 2 (22%) received variable care, and 1 (11%) received no care. Among individuals >6 years of age, 4 (33%) were adopted, 1 (8%) received variable care, and 7 (58%) received no care, aligning with non-orphaned individuals of this age who typically spend less time with their mother and become more socially fluid. In the variable care category, different patterns of association emerged. Of the two individuals <6 years of age who received variable care, one was found to have consistent but alternating levels of affiliation with their top 2 affiliates, while the other was found to have frequent changes in their top 3 affiliates. These results highlight diverse pathways through maternal loss for young chimpanzees.
Previous research on wild orphaned chimpanzees has focused on survival, lifespan, and adoption by group members, often emphasizing maternal siblings as the primary caregiver. In addition, previous reports have examined relatively short time periods encompassing the first few months post-orphaning. Less is known about longer-term patterns of association and/or association with non-sibling caregivers. We identified 49 cases of orphaning at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Data on dyadic association with group members were available for 21 individuals: 9 belonged to the age class in which non-orphans are permanently associated with their mothers (<6 years old) and 12 belonged to the age class in which individuals are typically weaned and have more independence from their mothers (6-12 years old). We categorized individuals depending on the type of care provided by others in the first 18 months after maternal death: adoption - permanent association; variable care - non-permanent association and caregiving provided by >1 individual; or no care - no consistent primary association partner. Among individuals <6 years of age, 6 (67%) were adopted, 2 (22%) received variable care, and 1 (11%) received no care. Among individuals >6 years of age, 4 (33%) were adopted, 1 (8%) received variable care, and 7 (58%) received no care, aligning with non-orphaned individuals of this age who typically spend less time with their mother and become more socially fluid. In the variable care category, different patterns of association emerged. Of the two individuals <6 years of age who received variable care, one was found to have consistent but alternating levels of affiliation with their top 2 affiliates, while the other was found to have frequent changes in their top 3 affiliates. These results highlight diverse pathways through maternal loss for young chimpanzees.
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