Cross species relationships which refers to an interaction rather than affiliation between different species blur the lines about behavior that is thought to be motivated by survival within the animal kingdom. These friendships are well documented with domesticated animals.
Bonobos on the other hand, (Pan paniscus), provide great insight into the evolution of empathy in wild species. Along with chimpanzees, bonobos are the most closely related primates to humans and are known for their peaceful and collaborative societies.
Because of such behavior, a deeper understanding of how social empathy, which is a defining feature of humans, has emerged, is made possible.
This blog describes social bonobo and their relations with other species peripherally as well as the relevance of these interactions in understanding empathy in human evolution.
Bonobo Social Structure: The Foundation of Empathy
Bonobos settle exclusively in the Congo Basin, where they are famously known as having matriarchal, fair societies. This type of society differs from the more hierarchical and violent chimpanzee societies. In addition to aggression, bonobos engage in sexual activity and share food. Females suppress male violence by forming strong alliances which in turn reinforce group cohesion.
This particular form of society focuses on helping one another rather than competing, which is often associated with the geographic areas in which they live. The variety of resources found in the rainforest like the bonobo habitat probably resulted in a low competition for food which led to the increased social behavior.
Bonobos show empathy in the form of comforting their distressed peers or even helping them unsolicited. Frans de Waal reveals some bonobos forcibly obtaining food from others for later use. This altruistic trait is rare among chimpanzees, who are more self-serving. These behaviors indicate a basic understanding of the emotions of others which is one of the first steps towards empathy in humans.
Cross-Species Interactions: Bonobos Beyond Their Kin
A record of bonobos engaging with different species serves as evidence of their positive social behavior. Bonobos in captivity are reported to have cared for birds or mammals that were injured. At the Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary in the DRC, one can see how the youngsters have a gentle spirit. They play with mongoose or provide duikers with fruits. Such behavior indicates their desire for social engagement rather than fulfilling survival activities.
One such instance is of a bonobo called Kuni who, after witnessing a baby starling in shock, moved some distance from it and encouraged it to fly. This action is not directly rewarding. However, it does offer some window of understanding regarding the characteristics of the bird: its needs and behavior—something that implies a theory of mind. The ability to understand the mental states of other people. Some skeptics may assume these antics are simply due to curiosity, but the lack of exploitation reveals the selfless nature of the actions.
Evolutionary Implications: From Bonobos to Humans
Bonobos and humans had a common ancestor 1-2 million years ago, and they share more than 98.7% of their DNA. That common ancestor had behaviours that had empathetic traits, which seems to be deeply rooted in the lineage. Evolutionary psychologists believe empathy was developed as a method of survival to foster group sustenance and cooperation. Bonds of empathy would have greatly assisted early humans to thrive in the rapidly changing world by enabling them to collaboratively bring up children, hunt, and resolve conflicts effectively.
This connection is further bolstered by neurobiological research. Both humans and bonobos exhibit activity in the insula and empathetic anterior regions of the cingulate cortex which is activated when people see other people in distress. These two species also have a social bonding hormone called oxytocin, or the ‘bonding hormone’, which strengthens trust and benevolence.
Human Evolutionary Empathy: Bridging Species Divides
The sphere of human empathy is not limited to just the people around us; it also incorporates pet ownership, wildlife conservation, and other forms of cross-species compassion. Such sympathy can be traced back to the traits that are associated with bonobos. Understanding and nurturing emotions that are non-human was a skill honed through various evolutionary pressures. This made the domestication of animals possible about 15,000 years ago.
Empathy’ instead of brute strength is selective in specific ecological components, which is why bonobos tend to prefer violent tactics. This suggests that non-aggressive methods of dealing with disputes similar to those possessed by humans was a strategy employed by bonobos in order to emphasize social cohesion. For humans, these traits were beneficial since they served as the foundation for intricate societies and facilitated the development of collaboration and transfer of culture.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite the fact that research supports the fact that bonobos have the ability to express empathy, the problem of anthropomorphism still remains. Distinguishing self-desire for Altruism from studies is important and must be done with great detail. Future works may focus on the bonobo’s neural activity while interacting with other species or even the manner in which they behaved towards early man which can be inferred from cultural and fossil records.
Conclusion
Bonobos shed great light on the evolution of empathy. They help us understand that the ability to feel compassion and love across species is not an attribute inherent to humans alone, but rather a collective inheritance. The study of these creatures also brings to light the evolution of social ties and forces us to reevaluate the position of our kind in the natural sphere. The strands of empathy that we try to unravel from bonobos poses the question of other life forms, and if they too possess the bond humans share with nature.
References
- De Waal, F. B. M. (2013). The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the Primates. W.W. Norton & Company.
- Hare, B., et al. (2007). “Tolerance allows bonobos to outperform chimpanzees on a cooperative task.” Current Biology.
- Clay, Z., & de Waal, F. B. M. (2013). ”Bonobos respond to distress in others: Consolation across the age spectrum.” PLoS ONE.
- Kano, F., et al. (2015). “Bonobos and chimpanzees exhibit human-like framing effects.” Biology Letters.
