Jealousy Among Chacma Baboons: Insights from New Research

A recent study published in *Proceedings of the Royal Society B* reveals that sibling rivalry and jealousy are not exclusive to humans; young chacma baboons exhibit similar behaviors. Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland conducted extensive observations of baboon families in Tsaobis Nature Park, Namibia, from August to December 2021. They focused on how young baboons competed for their mother’s attention, particularly during grooming sessions. The study involved monitoring two troops consisting of 49 young siblings across 16 families.

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The researchers noted that young baboons were more likely to interrupt their mother when she was grooming a sibling than when she was simply resting. This interruption could manifest in various forms, including biting, slapping, or vocalizing. Axelle Delaunay, the lead author of the study, highlighted that these behaviors reflect a striking similarity to patterns of sibling jealousy observed in human children. The study also developed an index to quantify maternal favoritism, revealing that mothers often groomed some offspring more than others.

The Straits Times

The findings suggest that jealousy among baboons may serve as a social mechanism, although the immediate benefits of such displays appear limited. The study found that baboon mothers ceased grooming one child due to interruptions from another approximately 20% of the time, but they only resumed grooming the jealous child in 9% of those instances. This indicates that while jealousy is prevalent, it does not consistently lead to increased maternal attention.

The Straits Times

While the study presents compelling evidence for jealousy in baboons, some experts urge caution in interpreting these behaviors as equivalent to human emotions. Joan Silk, a primatologist at Arizona State University, noted that while the behaviors are relatable, this does not necessarily confirm the presence of complex emotions like jealousy in non-human primates.

New York Times

The research on chacma baboons contributes to the understanding of emotional complexity in the animal kingdom, particularly regarding sibling dynamics. As scientists continue to explore these behaviors, the parallels drawn between human and primate emotions may offer deeper insights into the evolutionary roots of social interactions.

The Straits Times

• “It felt really strategic.” — Axelle Delaunay, Behavioral Ecologist, University of Turku

New York Times

• “Ms Delaunay pointed out that the displays of sibling jealousy did not appear to offer “many immediate benefits”.” — Axelle Delaunay, Behavioral Ecologist, University of Turku

The Straits Times

• “It’s totally relatable,” — Joan Silk, Primatologist, Arizona State University

New York Times