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Research Article
Cannibalism in wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) at Lui Kotale
Article first published online: 21 JAN 2010
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20802
© 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Fowler, A. and Hohmann, G. (2010), Cannibalism in wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) at Lui Kotale. Am. J. Primatol., 72: 509–514. doi: 10.1002/ajp.20802
Publication History
- Issue published online: 22 APR 2010
- Article first published online: 21 JAN 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 25 DEC 2009
- Manuscript Revised: 21 DEC 2009
- Manuscript Received: 10 JUN 2009
Funded by
- Max-Planck-Society
- The L.S.B. Leakey Foundation
- National Geographic Society
- The Volkswagen Foundation; and private donors
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- filial cannibalism;
- bonobos;
- Lui Kotale
Abstract
We describe the cannibalization of an infant bonobo (circa 2.5 years old) at Lui Kotale, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The infant died of unknown causes and was consumed by several community members including its mother and an older sibling one day after death. Certain features concerning the pattern of consumption fit in with previously observed episodes of cannibalism in Pan, whereas others, such as the mother's participation in consuming the body, are notable. The incident suggests that filial cannibalism among apes need not be the result of nutritional or social stress and does not support the idea that filial cannibalism is a behavioral aberration. Am. J. Primatol. 72:509–514, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.