Baboons carry dead offspring for 10 days before realising infant’s death: Study

In a significant discovery, a new study conducted by  researchers at University College London and France’s Université de Montpellier has revealed that baboons carry ir dead infants up to 10 days before y eventually bid adieu to deceased babies. study was conducted for a period of 13 years.

 research that took place in Namibian desert, sourn Africa, has been published in journal Royal Society Open Science. As per reports, behaviour of baboons was observed in 12 cases of baby baboons’ death, by researchers. This research constituted a miscarri and two stillbirth instances, and response of wild Namibian chacma baboons to ir deaths. 

 'extension of nurturing behaviour'

researchers observed that reaction of parents to ir offspring’s death vary in different cases, with time duration of minimum one hour and maximum 10 days. But, according to reports, on an aver, most mors held on to ir dead babies for three to four days.

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Alecia Carter, lead author of research said in a press release, “re are numerous hyposes to explain primate responses to dead infants. Perhaps strongest hyposis is that carrying after death is an extension of nurturing behavior.”

This has been revealed in study as it was observed that when infant dies, mor baboons would continue to look after ir progenies. researchers furr ticed that this time might be working as a “grief manment” for primates.  This shows ability of animals to feel for and to grieve ir dead – a trait kwn to be common among creatures including elephants, whales, dolphins, as per reports.

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Alecia Carter also added that reason for this behaviour has t been clear, however, she believes that it depends on a range of factors. She also mentioned that this behaviour indicates  a strong selection on mor-infant bond formation which is difficult to sever. 
 

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