Capuchin monkey infants readily adopt paternal roles. - Berber Monkeys Prefer Paternal Roles in Their Troops
Barbary Macaques: More Than Just Mothers' Helpers
Male Barbary macaques don't abandon the parental responsibilities to the mothers. According to Roland Hilgartner, director of the Affenberg-Salem monkey park on Lake Constance, these macaques care for the young, offering relief to the mothers.
Shortly after birth, the young monkeys primarily stay with the mothers, but the fathers are also present. Male Barbary macaques show great affection towards the offspring, relieving the mothers in their care. Furthermore, they establish connections with other fathers through the babies.
The Affenberg in Salem, located in Southern Baden-Württemberg, is home to approximately 200 Barbary macaques, who reside in a roughly 20-hectare forested enclosure – the largest monkey enclosure in Germany. Since April, four baby monkeys have been born in the park, says Hilgartner.
Barbary macaques do not conform to traditional family structures. They live in larger groups, not in pairs or families, and females have multiple mating partners. As a result, paternity among the males is uncertain, yet they still care for the babies affectionately. "It's possible they are caring for their own offspring," explains Hilgartner.
After Father's Day, the park director expects two to three monkey babies to be born this year. The sex of the animals can only be determined over time, according to the expert. Each year between 5 and 15 baby monkeys are born in the park. The pregnancy of the mothers is often challenging to detect due to their supplementary diet in spring.
Barbary macaques exhibit unique paternal care behavior, differing from many other primate species. Adult males protect the infants from predators, while young-adult males form strong bonds with male infants, and older males prefer to care for infants from high-ranking females. Females favor mating with males who provide the most paternal care, which can influence the males' social status.
The social behavior observed in the Affenberg-Salem monkey park is consistent with the typical social dynamics of the Barbary macaque community. The naturalistic setting of the park allows these animals to live in a semi-wild environment, which supports their typical social structure.
The supportive roles of male Barbary macaques extend beyond community policy, as they also adopt employment policies within their group. They are not just auxiliary caregivers but active participants in health-and-wellness matters, assisting in the care of the young. The science of primatology has also recognized the importance of fitness-and-exercise in understanding these unique parenting behaviors.
