Great Apes Kiss and Cuddle to Keep Peace
Wednesday, 2026/07/22190 words3 minutes1128 reads
A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences reveals that chimpanzees and bonobos employ reassuring physical contact to facilitate peaceful coexistence during potentially stressful feeding events. Researchers conducted observations at two great ape sanctuaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
The experimental design mimicked natural feeding conditions: researchers monitored the apes during the five-minute anticipatory period before peanuts arrived. This critical window, when animals were aware of impending food availability, proved particularly revealing. The team meticulously documented instances of touching, embracing, and kissing. Apes engaging in such reassuring physical contact demonstrated significantly higher rates of peaceful food access and cooperative feeding behavior.
Remarkably, chimpanzees, despite their established reputation for aggression, exhibited close physical contact including hand-to-mouth touching. Researchers posit that this tactile communication builds trust and cooperation, effectively preempting tension or competition. The findings suggest that the social utilization of touch may have evolutionary origins dating back at least seven million years, predating the divergence of humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos from their common ancestor. While these observations illuminate possible evolutionary foundations of social behavior, researchers caution against drawing direct parallels to specific human behaviors.
