US EditionFemale Gorillas Form Ties That Bind, Helping Them Join New Social Groups
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA, AUG 6 – Research shows female mountain gorillas prioritize familiar females when joining new groups to maintain social bonds and avoid inbreeding, based on 20 years of data.
- In the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers show that female mountain gorillas seek out familiar females when moving groups, based on over 20 years of data.
- Long-Term monitoring by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund provided data on 56 female mountain gorillas over two decades at Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
- Researchers identified that female mountain gorillas gravitate towards females they had spent at least five years with and seen in the last two years, indicating social bonds influence group movement.
- Findings overturn the idea that dispersal among female mountain gorillas is random, as dispersal patterns show females prefer known social bonds, challenging prior assumptions.
- Long-Term insights point to implications for understanding social evolution across species, as research shows strong ties across groups mirror key aspects of human societies.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Networks of long-distance female friends help gorillas move between groups
"I'm not going if I don't know anyone"—sound all too familiar? Well it's not just humans. Socializing in a new group can be tricky. People often rely on word of mouth and friends-of-friends connections. New research on gorillas suggests they may be using a similar strategy: when moving to a new social group, female gorillas seek out groups containing females they have lived with in the past.
New study shows how female gorillas move into new groups and try to reconnect with old acquaintances
A study in Rwanda highlights the importance of social connection between women
Relationships between female mountain gorillas are far more significant than previously thought, according to a new study conducted in the Vulk National Park.
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