Do chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) console a bereaved mother

摘要: Comparative thanatology encompasses the study of death-related responses in non-human animals and aspires to elucidate evolutionary origins human behavior context death. Many reports have revealed that humans are not only species affected by death group members. Non-human primates particular show behaviors such as congregating around deceased, carrying corpse for prolonged periods time (predominantly mothers dead infants), inspecting signs life. Here, we extend focus on exploring whether chimpanzees inclined console bereaved: individual(s) most closely associated with deceased. We report a case which chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) mother experienced loss her fully developed infant (presumed stillborn). Using observational data compare members’ before after death, found substantial number members selectively increased their affiliative expressions toward bereaved mother. Moreover, day observed heightened species-typical reassurance After ruling out several alternative explanations, propose many consoled means selective empathetic expressions.