Chimpanzees Deserve Mother's Day Too

Chimpanzees Deserve Mother's Day Too

4 years ago
Anonymous $pSba0tWIcA

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/chimpanzees-deserve-mothers-day-too/

The four-year-old whined as he followed his mother away from his playmates; a brief tantrum failed to convince her to stay with the play group. This scene could conceivably play out between parent and child at any local playground, but in this case the scene took place in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park, and the sulking youngster was a chimpanzee named Grendel, who did not agree with his mother, Gremlin, that it was time to move on.

At this time of year, as we celebrate our mothers for the countless hours they spend caring, teaching and supporting us over our lifetimes, we can also take a moment to consider the importance of mothers in other species. As with most mammals, chimpanzee mothers play a crucial role in the lives of their infant offspring. For the first four to five years of Grendel’s life, Gremlin will serve as his primary source of nutrition, transportation and protection.