Meet primates acting as midwives

Unlike homo sapiens, animals are usually born alone without the assistance of others of the same species. Except for bonobos, a breed of primates that is our closest relative - not chimpanzees, as most people think.

One behavior that highlights this resemblance - or even betrays a possible common evolutionary predecessor - is the recently observed practice of providing support when one of the females in the group goes into labor.

Associate researchers from the University of Pisa and CNRS / Université Claude Bernard observed recent births of the species and found that bonobos females come together and act as midwives, sharing experiences and contributing to a number of developments in the process.

Biologists and technicians have investigated the behavior of different groups of bonobos in the Netherlands and France - including some who had no contact with each other - and have noted that it all starts with their noticing when one of the females goes into labor.

Their activities include, for example, making sure the site is safe, ensuring that no male - indeed, neither male nor human - will appear to interrupt the practice. They also scare off flies from their chosen birth space, avoiding contamination of the pregnant woman's genitals.

When delivery begins, they come together, communicate, act quickly, and even welcome the newborn puppy while the mother recovers.

Familiar, isn't it? Yeah! These are activities very similar to the way women organize themselves when one of them is having a baby - or at least, as it was before maternity hospitals and hospitals existed.