Infant adoptions in wild bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata).

Area of Science:

• Primate behavior
• Ethology
• Mammalian social systems

Background:

• Orphaned infant care, or adoption, is documented in non-human primates.
• Understanding factors influencing infant survivorship is crucial for population dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate instances of infant adoption in wild bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata).
• To determine the relationship between maternal rank, number of caregivers, and orphan survivorship.

Main Methods:

• Observational study of two wild bonnet macaque groups.
• Recording instances of infant care after maternal loss.
• Analyzing caregiver characteristics and infant survivorship data.

Main Results:

• Five cases of orphaned infant care were observed in pre-weaning macaques.
• Caregivers included juveniles, subadults, and adults of both sexes.
• Infant survivorship was positively correlated with the number of caregivers, not directly with maternal rank.
• High-ranking mothers' infants had more caregivers and longer survivorship.

Conclusions:

• Maternal sociality, reflected in the number of available caregivers, significantly impacts orphaned infant survival in bonnet macaques.
• Adoption behavior in primates is a complex phenomenon influenced by social networks.