How female friendships help chimp babies survive

How female friendships help chimp babies survive

Female chimpanzees that forge strong, grooming-rich friendships with other females dramatically boost their infants’ odds of making it past the perilous first year—no kin required. Three decades of Gombe observations show that well-integrated mothers enjoy a survival rate of up to 95% for their young, regardless of male allies or sisters. The payoff may come from shared defense, reduced stress, or better access to food, hinting that such allianc…