Orphaned Chimpanzees Play Rougher Than Their Mother-Reared Counterparts (Scientific American)

In central Zambia, at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, dozens of parentless chimpanzees are raised among their peers, without adults. The arrangement is a lucky one for the chimps: in the wild, orphanhood can mean death.

Yet the parentless life—even at a refuge—has its drawbacks. Across a wide range of social species, research has demonstrated how normal social development depends on the presence of mature individuals, which leaves orphans at a disadvantage. [Read Full Article]