Abstract
Post-conflict behaviour has been widely investigated in anthropoid primates but not extensively in prosimians. Here, we report the reconciliation pattern of a 14-individual group of wild brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) in the Berenty gallery forest (South Madagascar). We found that reconciliation occurs only in the non-feeding context and that it works in reducing the risk of renewed aggression. Thus, reconciliation would provide an immediate positive feedback that is probably independent of the quality of the relationship between opponents. Reconciliation may also be a hic-et-nunc mechanism, needed to avoid conflict spreading across group members, possibly leading to social disruption.
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Acknowledgments
We thank the De Heaulmes for hospitality at Berenty; Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia, Parco Zoo Falconara, and Parco Zoo Punta Verde for funding; and Chandra Brondi, Stefania Dall’Olio, Valentina Sclafani and Carpineto for field assistance.
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Norscia, I., Palagi, E. Do wild brown lemurs reconcile? Not always. J Ethol 29, 181–185 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-010-0228-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-010-0228-y