Primate study suggests roots of pet-keeping behavior

A recent study published in the journal Primates suggests that the desire to keep pets may have roots in our deep primate past. Researchers observed unusual interspecies interactions that deviate from typical aggressive behaviors seen among primates.

In Uganda, two young eastern chimpanzees, Ishe and Dembe, were observed calmly grooming the tail of a red monkey rather than acting aggressively. This behavior is viewed by scientists as a potential early stage of pet-keeping behavior. The research examined 427 interspecies interactions across 88 primate species, finding that various primates exhibit behaviors that could be linked to caring for other species.

From an evolutionary standpoint, providing resources to other species without direct evolutionary interest has long been considered an enigma. However, the study suggests that the impulse to care for companion animals may be a trait shared by our primate relatives.