Adult Male-Infant Relations among Baboons (Papio anubis)

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Abstract
Among nonhuman primate social groups there exist long-lasting relationships between individual animals. These relationships, or bonds, are expressed in both friendly and antagonistic interactions, and include consort preferences, supportive relationships, and mother-infant, sibling, pair and peer bonds. The field observer has available information on certain classes of developing relationships, those of the maturing infant with members of the troop. These relationships appear to be highly influential in directing the processes of social development and ultimately, adult bond formation. Based on over 2,500 h of observation of two troops of free-ranging, forest-living baboons in the Gombe National Park, this paper presents a discussion of several types of repetitive, intense interactions which can occur between infants and adult males. The timing, frequency and emotional affect of these interactions suggest that they may be most influential in directing the maturing infant into appropriate roles and relationships as an adult.

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