Macaque males are often caught in the act of infant-stealing practices, but why? While it seems brutal, it is actually an effective way of maintaining relations in the troop.
Males will often have altercations, and the loser of the argument will steal – or ‘borrow’ – an infant from a female to give to the winner as a reconciliation gift.
It’s important for macaques to mend their arguments quickly and maintain good relations because these primates live (and therefore survive) in troops. The loser of the argument also needs to keep rank, because it means better access to food and females.
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Watch this video from BBC Earth to see how – and why – macaques use babies to mend broken friendships and resolve arguments.
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- Top image: A macaque and a baby in Lhoong, Indonesia (credit: Getty Images)