Macaque males take on parental duties in the family group - Berber monkey males exhibit paternal tendencies.
Barbary Macaques at Affenberg-Salem Monkey Park Offer Unconventional Paternal Care
Male Barbary macaques, a species known for their unique social structure, play a significant role in the care of their offspring at the Affenberg-Salem monkey park on Lake Constance. The park director, Roland Hilgartner, confirms this, stating that the male macaques don't leave their baby monkeys alone but help care for them as well.
In this park, about 200 Barbary macaques inhabit a 20-hectare forested enclosure, making it Germany's largest monkey enclosure. With four newborn monkeys since April, the park continues to expand its macaque population.
Contrary to traditional family structures, Barbary macaques do not live in pairs or families. Instead, they form larger groups, with female macaques having multiple mating partners. As a result, paternity among the males remains unclear, yet they still demonstrate diligent care towards the infants within the group.
Despite their promiscuous mating system, male Barbary macaques foster intricate bonds with each other through their interactions with offspring, thus maintaining harmony within the group. The park's expanding infant population suggests more babies are expected even after Father's Day.
With pregnancy in females being challenging to spot, the park director anticipates two to three more monkey babies this year. Although their sex can only be determined over time, the species gives birth to between 5 and 15 monkey babies annually at the park.
In their matrilineal society, Barbary macaques rely on both males and females to engage in alloparenting, a behavior that helps socialize young macaques and maintain group cohesion. Barbary macaque males strengthen their social bonds and influence within the troop through their active role in caregiving. This phenomenon is evident in the behavior of the macaques at the Affenberg-Salem monkey park despite the specifics of their local context not being detailed.
The community policy at Affenberg-Salem Monkey Park encourages a family-like environment where both male and female Barbary macaques engage in alloparenting, which is crucial for socializing young macaques and maintaining group cohesion. In this health-and-wellness facility, the employment policy favorably employs strategies that promote science-based care and welfare for the Barbary macaques, with an emphasis on parenting dynamics for a better understanding of these species.
