Bonobo: how uncontrollable lust changed a chimpanzee (11 photos)

Imagine a society without wars and conflicts. Instead of shouting, there are kisses; instead of fighting, there are hugs. For us, this is a utopia, but for the bonobos, it's just another day in the Congo jungle. In a world filled with malice and cruelty, these apes have forgotten how to quarrel with each other. Do you know the secret of their friendliness? Insatiable lust! Everyone here, from the youngest to the oldest, indulges in debauchery. So much so that the authors of the Kama Sutra would be embarrassed!





Why are you standing there, like you're not part of the family? Join us!

The history of this species began approximately 1.5–2 million years ago, when the Congo River changed its course. Primates hate swimming, so the water barrier forever separated the ancestors of modern chimpanzees and bonobos. The former remained on the left bank and spread throughout West and Central Africa. The latter found themselves isolated in a relatively small area on the right bank, in a loop between the Congo and Kasai rivers. Left to their own devices, bonobos embarked on an evolutionary voyage that led them to a haven of peace and hedonism.



Come to the good side! We don't have any cookies, but we do have something more interesting...

Outwardly, the two species are almost identical. Perhaps bonobos are slightly slimmer and slightly less hairy. But internally, these primates are so different, it's as if they were never related at all.





If it weren't for the captions, you'd hardly notice the difference.

Common chimpanzee society is built on the principle of strength. Skirmishes, fights, and cursing are the norm for them. Only a male can become the leader of the group. He must constantly defend his status. Sometimes by winning skirmishes with other males. Sometimes by resolving conflicts among other group members. In any case, physical strength is essential to maintaining his desired position.



But many conflicts can be resolved through mutual grooming—combing each other's fur.

In bonobo society, males are almost never allowed to assume leadership positions. Females call the shots. They are not physically stronger, but they have learned to form powerful coalitions to repel any presumptuous "suitor." Females pass on their high status to their daughters, creating a stable and cohesive structure. Thus, a clear and distinct hierarchy emerges, and there's simply no point in trying to sort things out.



Friends, I've gathered you here for a very important matter. You should check out my new manicure.

The two primate species' attitudes toward their own kind are also radically different. Common chimpanzees reject strangers under any circumstances. They clearly mark and guard their territory. Decided to cross the border? You're risking your neck. Some groups, while patrolling their territory, specifically hunt males from other groups. Sometimes they not only kill them, but also eat them. Not out of hunger, but to keep everyone around them in fear.



I'm here, I stand for this street. The boys give me everything, and I give everything to the boys. Anyone who knows me knows I raised people here.

Bonobos, however, rather than fight with their neighbors, prefer to get to know them and communicate. Two groups, meeting in the jungle, can peacefully feed, travel, and rest together, forming strong social bonds that we would call friendship.



When you're trying to tell a girl's fortune on a first date, but you don't understand a thing...

How do bonobos maintain this "paradise" in an environment where competition and violence reign among other primates? The secret is simple: they've started making love instead of making war! For bonobos, sex is no longer just a means of reproduction. It's become a universal social currency.



It's so tempting, the devil!

Let's simulate a situation: a group of bonobos discovers a crate of fruit. What would any other wild animal do? That's right, they'll pounce on the food, pushing aside any other animals who might be tempted to grab it. What would bonobos do? They'll attack each other! The feast will briefly turn into an orgy. This way, the apes channel the tension from the competition for resources into peaceful pursuits. The primates will begin their meal calmly, according to their position in the troop. Almost all conflicts and disagreements are resolved this way. Bonobos can have sex up to 20 times a day! That's every 1.5 hours!



When the GPS takes you the wrong way and you end up on a nudist beach.

This is also how social bonds are strengthened. If a young bonobo leaves its home group and joins a new one, the first thing it does is give itself to everyone it meets. And for female bonobos, regular close contact is a guarantee of power. This is how they strengthen female alliances, which helps them achieve dominance over males.



Hey, gorgeous, aren't your parents bakers by any chance? Otherwise, how would they get such a bun?

Therefore, bonobo society has virtually no taboos: contacts occur between all possible combinations of partners, regardless of gender or age. Teenagers, adults—everyone, from the youngest to the oldest—know how to make amends with a member of the troop if they want to make peace. Immoral? For humans, definitely.



The only taboo among bonobos is the bond between a mother and her young.

How does such promiscuity affect reproduction? In fact, it doesn't! Despite their enormous number of partners, reproductive success among bonobos is extremely unevenly distributed. DNA studies have shown that, despite the apparent "freedom of relationships," approximately 62% of the young in a group can be the offspring of just one, the highest-ranking male. This is even higher than that of aggressive chimpanzees! Female bonobos, being the leaders of the group, are selective in their reproduction. When they're ready to have a baby, they prefer to mate with the most "status" males, often the sons of influential mothers. So, even the most amorous monkeys in the world don't indulge in blind love!