The touching action of a capuchin monkey who nursed his injured son

The noble act of a mono capuchino treating her calf which had a dislocated knee, she caught the spotlight from two researchers to understand the sensation of compassion and care for the species that they have the least chance of surviving in the animal world.

Tatiane Valença and Tiago Falótico, academics from the University of Sao Paulo, in their research “Life and death of a disabled baby wild capuchin monkey”, published in the February issue of the scientific journal Primates, deepened the evolutionary roots and behaviors of animals care for members of their pack who are injured or sick.

“The evolutionary roots of caring for injured, ill, and disabled group members remain unclear,” they explained of one of the adversities encountered in studying these behaviors, but they felt that this case ” sheds light on these origins”. ”.

THIS MAY INTEREST YOU: Why the birth of three lion cubs is a beacon of hope in Africa

In the video you can see how the female starts hitting a stone with another that is on the ground, which could be a sign that she was looking to open a seed. All the while the baby capuchin hung on his back, scholars explained that the animal had no outward signs of damage, but had a dislocated knee.

The reason it was injured was unknown, but the animal was unable to use its foot to grasp fruit or any other object. As his mother made movements with the rock, she repeatedly slowed down to change the position of the monkey.

“The incapacity of the limbs caused the baby to be in unstable positions during carrying, which seemed to increase the frequency of body readjustments”, explained Tatiana Valença and Tiago Falótico.

Another of the moves that the mother made was to raise the tail, to prevent the calf from falling off its back. This behavior is unusual in these primates as they regularly press this limb down to increase leverage when opening encapsulated fruits. Even when his mother was breastfeeding him.

THIS MAY INTEREST YOU: Five curiosities of the marmoset, the smallest primate in the world

He baby capuchin monkey He was also cared for by an adult male who carried him on his back and rested near the mother, with this specimen it was also possible to appreciate the same care, the calf was lodged several times to prevent him don’t get hurt.

He the young capuchin did not survive more than eight weeks, researchers continued to observe the female after the death of her son and noticed that she had changed her behavior while carrying the lifeless body. Instead of having it on his back, the the primate held it firmly with one hand of some member or its tail despite the fact that the smell of decomposition was beginning to be felt.

As the calf was injured, the female allowed other monkeys to interact with the baby, but after she died, the mother prevented any other primates from approaching the body and began to move away from the herd. each day.

According to an “unconscious” hypothesis cited by the study, effort post mortem What have we seen in primate mothers? It is considered a measure of evolution to avoid abandonment while the species is temporarily unconscious or unresponsive.

THIS MAY INTEREST YOU: What is the recommendation of scientists to prevent animal abuse

“The difficulty of transporting disabled and dead individuals up trees may help explain the paucity of reports of platyrrhines,” the researchers detailed.

The work team explained that the prolonged efforts were beyond the physical capacity of the mother.