Monkeys Grooming each Other #monkey #wildlife #nature #evenetmakukule #big5 #africa #animals

Vervet monkeys engage in grooming behaviour as a means of social bonding and maintaining social relationships within their troops. Grooming is a mutual activity where one monkey picks through the fur of another, removing dirt, insects, and parasites. Here are some key points about vervet monkey grooming behaviour:

1. Social bonding: Grooming plays a crucial role in the social structure of vervet monkeys. By grooming one another, they establish and strengthen social bonds within their troop. This behaviour promotes cooperation, trust, and overall unity.

2. Hygiene maintenance: Grooming helps to keep the monkeys' fur clean, removing debris, dirt, and external parasites like ticks and lice. Regular grooming helps prevent skin infections and infestations.

3. Body language: During grooming sessions, the groomer often uses their hands to separate the fur and pick through it, while the recipient monkey may present specific body parts to facilitate grooming. This cooperative behaviour showcases not only trust but also communication through body language.

4. Grooming hierarchy: There is typically a grooming hierarchy within vervet monkey troops. Higher-ranking individuals often receive more grooming from lower-ranking individuals, indicating their higher social status. Grooming can be a form of social currency within the group.

5. Mutual benefit: Grooming is a mutually beneficial behaviour for both the groomer and the recipient. The groomer gets an opportunity to remove parasites and maintain social bonds, while the recipient benefits from having pests removed from their fur and experiencing social grooming.

6. Stress reduction: Grooming sessions can also help to reduce stress within the troop. Mutual grooming has a calming effect on the monkeys, as it can increase levels of oxytocin and reduce cortisol, a stress hormone.

Overall, grooming behaviour among vervet monkeys is an essential part of their social interactions, maintaining hygiene, and establishing and reinforcing social bonds within their troop.