Social play of juvenile and adolescent chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Social play of juvenile and adolescent chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, was studied, by analyzing processes of play and interindividual relationships in play. The results are discussed in relation to communication mechanisms. Play was initiated in several ways. Communication about play seems to depend on the receiver's interpretation: They can interpret the sender's behavior as play, referring to (1) play signals accompanied by the behavior, (2) transformation of the behavior in timing, strength, or rhythm, and (3) situation of the occurrence. Initiation attempts sometimes failed because one hesitated in playing with the other. Although the stronger often reduced his/her activity during play, play tended to escalate in activity. Players may enjoy such escalation. Play also had a mechanism not to escalate into fighting. Play was influenced by individuals other than the players. The third party's movement often affected the players' interaction. The term play does not indicate a behavior itself but the context of the behavior: The players interpret their behaviors in their play context.

African Elephant Play, Competence and Social Complexity

“…In addition, play's role in training individuals for the unexpected in their physical and social environments (e.g., Kuczaj et al, 2006;Spinka et al, 2001) allows male elephants to experience diverse novel social partners that are lacking in their family groups during early development and possibly unavailable once males disperse and become more solitary. The importance of seeking out novel age-mates in order to provide social opportunities that are not available via normal associates has been demonstrated for other fission-fusion species such as dolphins (Kuczaj et al, 2006;Paulos, Trone, & Kuczaj, 2010) and probably also operates in chimpanzees (Hayaki, 1985). For male elephants, allowing for potentially dangerous contacts in the low risk, high arousal state of play may provide an enriched environment for risk-learning and indeed for the reinforcing value of risky experiences themselves (e.g., Burghardt, 2005;Miller & Byers, 1998).…”

Emotion as an Intervening Variable in Understanding the Cognitive and Social Complexity and Well-Being of Chimpanzees

“…For example, play is characterized by its apparent lack of serious purpose or immediate goal (Bateson, 2005). Chimpanzees engage in a wide variety of play behaviors, including social play (Hayaki, 1985;Plooij, 1979), object play involving tools (Ramsey & McGrew, 2005), and "imaginary" play (e.g., "doll" play by female juveniles; . Additionally, play activity occurs during the entire life span of chimpanzees (Mendoza-Granados & Sommer, 1995).…”

Play Behavior of Red Colobus Monkeys in Kibale National Park, Uganda

“…Explanations for the reduction in play include an increase in aggressiveness over time [Caine, 1986], a decrease in nutrient intake as individuals become increasingly more self-reliant for food acquisition and reduced responsiveness to play solicitations [Levy, 1979]. Although there are exceptions to the pattern, juvenile males tend to play more frequently and for longer durations than females [Poirier, et al, 1978;Symons, 1978;Pusey, 1983;Hayaki, 1985]. Furthermore, males tend to engage in more roughand-tumble play (aggressive play or play fighting) than females (Japanese macaques [Hayaki, 1983]; chimpanzees [Hayaki, 1985]; vervets [Govindarajulu et al, 1993]; savannah baboons [Owens, 1975;Raleigh et al, 1979]; rhesus macaques [Symons, 1978]; long-tailed macaques [van Noordwijk et al, 1993]; gorillas [Watts and Pusey, 1993]).…”

“…Although there are exceptions to the pattern, juvenile males tend to play more frequently and for longer durations than females [Poirier, et al, 1978;Symons, 1978;Pusey, 1983;Hayaki, 1985]. Furthermore, males tend to engage in more roughand-tumble play (aggressive play or play fighting) than females (Japanese macaques [Hayaki, 1983]; chimpanzees [Hayaki, 1985]; vervets [Govindarajulu et al, 1993]; savannah baboons [Owens, 1975;Raleigh et al, 1979]; rhesus macaques [Symons, 1978]; long-tailed macaques [van Noordwijk et al, 1993]; gorillas [Watts and Pusey, 1993]). The most common explanation for these sex differences is that play increases males' reproductive success by enhancing their physical fitness and fighting skills [Groos, 1898;Smith, 1978;Symons, 1978;Fagen, 1981;Chalmers, 1984;Govindarajulu et al, 1993].…”