Mother-infant relations in chimpanzee.

Abstract

The mother chimpanzee usually cleans, grooms, and variously cares for her infant from the first. As a rule, the mother actively exercises the infant in the early weeks, and encourages it in creeping, standing, walking, and climbing. After 3-6 mos. the abdominal position in which the infant is at first carried is changed in favor of clinging to the maternal arm, leg, or back. The mother generally permits nutritional independence after the first half year. Marked individual differences are found both in mothers and infants. The primiparous ? displays considerable inefficiency in maternal activity.