Adult-adult play in captive lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

ABSTRACT: Among African great apes, play is virtually absent between adult lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Here, we report an extremely rare case of adult-adult play observed in the lowland gorilla group housed at La Vallée de Singes (France). We recorded three playful interactions between the silverback and an adult lactating female. Given the diverse causal and functional nature of play, different factors may join in promoting this behaviour. In our group, contrary to what has been shown by previous studies in wild and captive gorillas, adult females spent more time in spatial proximity with the silverback than with other females. Hence, the probability of social interaction (including play) between silverback and adult females was enhanced. Moreover, the motivation of the lactating fe

SUBMITTER: Cordoni G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9061689 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature