NEW YORK — A recent study has spotlighted the unique social dynamics of female bonobos, who have been observed forming alliances to protect their position against males in the wild. Despite male bonobos being physically larger and stronger, the social structure among bonobos is often female-driven, a phenomenon that has intrigued scientists for years.
Research conducted over thirty years in Congo, the sole natural habitat for the endangered bonobos, supports the concept of a ‘sisterhood’ among females. This inter-female cooperation allows them to collectively assert dominance, often by driving male bonobos away from essential resources like food. Female bonobos that participated in these social alliances not only secured sustenance but also elevated their social standing within their groups.
Martin Surbeck of Harvard University, a key contributor to the study, pointed out the significance of these female groups in balancing the physical power disparity between the sexes. Unlike the norm in the animal kingdom, this strategy enables females to hold sway over males. Comparable social structures wherein females gain power through cooperation are observed in spotted hyenas as well.
Interestingly, the study revealed that the formation of female alliances extended beyond individual close bonds. Such coalitions provided support against male aggression and ensured a stable social hierarchy. Laura Lewis, a biological anthropologist from the University of California, Berkeley, emphasized the importance of these findings in understanding social evolution. Lewis, although not part of this research, noted that similar coalitions might have played a significant role in the development of human social structures throughout history.
The results of this study were published in the journal Communications Biology. By examining these dynamics, scientists gain insights into the use of coalitions as a tool for building and maintaining power, a concept that might echo through millions of years of evolutionary history.