Play-mothering: The Relations between Juvenile Females and Young Infants among Free-ranging Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops)

Abstract

In a study of social behavior of free-ranging vervet monkeys living along the Zambezi River near Livingstone, Zambia, 295 observations were made in which a juvenile female directed some type of maternal behavior toward an infant. Juvenile females showed a high degree of interest in young infants and would touch, cuddle, carry and groom infants whenever they could. This opportunity to care for infants provides juvenile females with situations in which they can practice not only motor skills that are important in maternal behavior but also playing the maternal role itself.