Maternal caretaking behavior towards a dead juvenile in a wild, multi-level primate society

Maternal caretaking and transport of dead infants are widespread among nonhuman primates, having been reported in numerous species of monkeys and apes. By contrast, accounts of such behaviors toward dead juveniles are scarce. Here, we describe responses by the mother and other group members to the death of a juvenile in a wild, multi-level group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana). Following the juvenile's fatal accident, his mother transported and cared for the corpse for four days. Immature monkeys belonging to the same one-male unit, and some individuals from other social units also showed interest in and tended the corpse. Comparisons of this case with those involving the deaths of infants and an adult female in the same population highlight possible effects of physiological, psychological and emotional factors in primate thanatological responses, and provide an additional perspective on the origin and evolution of compassionate acts.

Automated summary

Maternal caretaking and transport of dead infants are common in nonhuman primates, but accounts of such behaviors toward dead juveniles are rare. This study describes responses to the death of a juvenile in a group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys, including the mother's care for the corpse and the interest shown by other group members. Comparisons with other deaths in the same population provide insights into the physiological, psychological and emotional factors influencing primate thanatological responses and the evolution of compassion.