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"The success of chimpanzee hunting has increased as more chimpanzees have been involved in hunting or prey hunting before the start of the hunt," says Liran Samuni of the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology. and first author of the study. "The sharing of meat following successful hunts encouraged participation in the hunt, as prey seekers shared more frequently with hunters than non-hunters, despite similar begging attempts."
In addition, the researchers found that chimpanzee hunting behavior was associated with the activation of oxytocin, a neuro-hormone created to facilitate cooperative behavior in humans and other animals. The activation of oxytocin during chimp hunting is a potential mechanism facilitating cooperative hunting. "Our new study strongly supports the cooperative nature of hunting behavior in some wild chimpanzees, probably facilitated by neuroendocrine and behavioral mechanisms," says lead author Roman Wittig.
As with humans, the success of the hunt probably depends on motivation and performance, with little guarantee that the effort invested in the hunt will pay off. A mechanism in which active hunting participants who have not caught prey are still rewarded with meat, a valuable food source, supports future cooperation to potentially increase performance.
Sharing meat ensures more predictable meat accessibility throughout the year, which may have shaped human brain development and life cycle characteristics. While cooperation on hunting and meat accessibility has shaped the characteristics of the history of human life, this study indicates that similar selection pressures could influence the life traits of chimpanzees.
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Material provided by Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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