Do rhesus mothers suggest friends to their offspring?

Rhesus mothers (Macaca mulatta) may hold their own infant together with the infant of another female in a so-called double-hold. This behavior was observed 240 times in 23 individual females in two independent captive groups. Approximately nine out of ten times, the second infant was from a dominant matriline. It is suggested that females try to promote future association between their own offspring and high-ranking youngsters.