Study Reveals Widespread Primate Interactions with Other Species, Challenging Pet-Keeping Origins
A recent study, co-authored by University of Oxford evolutionary biologist Cyril Grueter, has documented 427 instances of primates interacting closely with other animal species. These interactions, observed in both wild and captive environments, involved 88 primate species and 127 different non-primate species, including mice, deer, pigs, squirrels, and dogs. The behaviors ranged from gentle holding and caressing to grooming, playing, and even riding. While most interactions were characterized by play or grooming, 26 cases were deemed 'abusive,' with 13 instances resulting in the death of the non-primate animal, though these were not necessarily attributed to aggression but potentially botched care attempts. The study highlights that juvenile primates were more prone to play, while females exhibited more grooming behaviors. These findings, published in the journal Primates, suggest that such cross-species interactions are more common than previously understood and could offer insights into the evolutionary... 
