Behavioral responses of an infant gorilla to maternal separation in a captive social group of lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) |
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Authors: | Masayuki Nakamichi April Silldorff Peggy Sexton |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Ethological Studies, Faculty of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0841 Osaka, Japan;(2) Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego Wild Animal Park, 92027 Escondido, California, U. S. A. |
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Abstract: | The present report describes behavioral reactions of a 33-month-old female infant gorilla to maternal separation in a captive
social group whose composition is similar to that of wild groups. The infant gorilla responded differently to two types of
maternal separation. When she remained alone for a few hours, she cried repeatedly and moved restlessly, indicating protest.
Upon reunion and also for a few days thereafter, an intensification of the mother-infant relationship occurred. On the other
hand, when she was separated from her mother but remained with the other group members for nine days, she did not display
any behaviors that could be characterized as protest, but rather showed clear behavioral depression. During the 9-day separation
period, she hardly played with other group members but she developed affiliative relationships with the leading male. After
the reunion from the 9-day separation, she spent as much time near her mother as before separation and played with other infants
at a level similar to that before separation, while she sometimes displayed behavioral patterns demanding the maintenance
of physical contact with her mother. The present findings are compared with other reports in great apes and human children. |
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Keywords: | Western lowland gorilla Maternal separation Infant response Silverback male-infant interaction Social support |
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