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Female Bonobos Unite to Dominate Males, Study Reveals
NEW YORK — A new study reveals that female bonobos, a close relative to humans, exhibit a powerful strategy by collaborating to ward off males in their natural habitat. This research sheds light on the dynamics of bonobo societies and the strength found in unity.
Bonobo Social Structure: A Female-Dominated Society
Bonobos, alongside chimpanzees, are among humanity’s closest relatives. For years, researchers have been puzzled by the generally female-led communities of bonobos, especially considering the males’ greater physical size and strength.
Decades of Observation in the Congo
Three decades of observation in the Congo, the exclusive natural habitat of the endangered bonobo, reinforces the concept of a sisterhood. Female bonobos cooperate to assert their dominance. The study highlights:
- These groups of females chased male bonobos away from resources, ensuring access to food.
- Females who participated more actively in these groups achieved higher social status.
The Power of Unity
“It’s very clear that you don’t want to overstep as a male bonobo,” noted Martin Surbeck, a study author from Harvard University, emphasizing the significant impact of female cooperation.
- The study’s discoveries were published Thursday in Communications Biology
Surbeck suggested that the collective power of female bonobos effectively neutralizes individual male physical strength. This marks a rare achievement in the animal realm, where females successfully rise to the top through strategic collaboration. A similar dynamic can be observed in spotted hyenas, for instance.
Implications of Female Coalitions
Observations indicated that female bonobos formed alliances and aided one another against males, enhancing their collective social standing, even in the absence of close relationships. Biological anthropologist Laura Lewis from the University of California, Berkeley, highlighted that the observations demonstrate how female bonobos collaborate to safeguard themselves from male aggression.
Lewis, unaffiliated with the research, stated via email that the discoveries bolster “the idea that humans and our ancestors have likely used coalitions to build and maintain power for millions of years.”