Unlikely animal friends? Or will this mongoose become a meal? This image of a juvenile bonobo cradling a golden mongoose has been shortlisted for the British Natural History Museum’s prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award. Photo by Christian Ziegler.
This rare behavior was captured by photographer Christian Ziegler while he was working with scientists at LuiKotale, a bonobo research site in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bonobos primarily eat plants, but they also hunt mammals including mongooses. “Meat is usually shared among the group,” says Leakey Foundation grantee Barbara Fruth who leads the research at LuiKotale.
In rare cases, however, prey can be kept alive. “It can happen that when their appetite is satisfied, bonobos will keep leftover prey as pets,” she says. Because these individuals are later ingested, Fruth says “this behavior cannot be labeled as care-taking.”
The story in the photo has a happy ending though - the male eventually released the mongoose pet, which makes Fruth wonder if the unusual behavior was socially motivated. “It’s possible that pets may be kept to attract interest from other group members, thereby potentially increasing the status of the handler,” she says.
All photos by Christian Ziegler. ... See MoreSee Less
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