Tamarins bred by orioles show a strong tendency to assume the paternal role in their offspring's upbringing. - Berber monkey males exhibit a paternal instinct.
Barbary Macaques Exhibit Unique Form of Parental Care
Male Barbary macaques do not abandon their offspring to mothers alone; they also play a crucial role in child-rearing, according to Roland Hilgartner, director of the Affenberg-Salem monkey park on Lake Constance.
In the initial days after birth, the newborn macaques are primarily with the mothers. However, the fathers are also present. They provide loving nurturance and relieve mothers of their duties. Males, apart from caring for the infants, also establish connections with other male macaques through the infants.
The Affenberg monkey park in Salem, southern Baden-Württemberg, hosts a 20-hectare forested free-range enclosure, the largest monkey enclosure in Germany. Approximately 200 Barbary macaques reside there. According to Hilgartner, four monkey babies have been born in the park since April.
Unlike traditional family structures, Barbary macaques do not live in pairs or as families. Mothers have multiple mating partners, making paternity uncertain. Nevertheless, they exhibit loving care towards the babies in the group. It is possible that the infants could be their own offspring.
More monkey babies are expected in Salem even beyond Father's Day. The park director anticipates two to three new arrivals this year. However, the gender of the animals can only be determined over time, as per the expert.
On average, between five and fifteen monkey babies are born annually in the park, according to Hilgartner. The pregnancies of the mothers are often challenging to detect due to their springtime feeding on young leaves and shoots.
The enrichment data suggests that Barbary macaques exhibit a rare form of parental behavior, where both males and females contribute significantly to child-rearing. This is unusual, considering their promiscuous mating system. Males also seem to form strong bonds with male infants and prioritize caring for infants from high-ranking females. Females appear to favor males who provide substantial paternal care in their mating decisions.
Though not explicitly mentioned, similar primate sanctuaries and research centers like the Affenberg-Salem monkey park offer controlled environments for studying primate behavior. These sanctuaries provide a semi-natural setting for observing behaviors such as alloparenting, social interactions, and paternal care.
In summary, the unique child-rearing approach of Barbary macaques, where both parents contribute, has been observed at the Affenberg-Salem monkey park. This is particularly interesting given the species' promiscuous mating system and the strong bonds formed between males and female infants.
The community policy of the Affenberg-Salem monkey park should encourage the continued study and observation of the unique parental care exhibited by Barbary macaques, which includes both male and female contribution to child-rearing. This peculiar behavior, observed in their 20-hectare forested enclosure, prompted the need for employment policies that attract dedicated researchers and caretakers.
In addition, the park's employment policy should consider hiring individuals with specialized knowledge in lifestyle, home-and-garden, and pets to help create an environment that mirrors the natural habitat of the Barbary macaques and enhances their well-being, contributing to a positive home-and-garden experience for both the animals and visitors.
