Amidst civil war, a social environment that exhibits free love, peace and sexuality would be a startling find deep within the heart of the African Congo. But primatologist and University professor Frances White discovered groundbreaking evidence that affirms the ability of primates to demonstrate such behavior.
Unlike their cousin the chimpanzee, bonobo apes seem to embody the phrase “make love not war,” as was articulated by White on Wednesday night at the OMSI Science Pub presentation in the downtown nightclub, Luna.
While studying the social behavior of bonobos in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, White found that females are generally the dominant members of society and that sex is a pleasurable pastime performed numerous times on any given day.
Although females can only reproduce once every five years, sex is not reserved for reproduction, nor is it restricted to just heterosexual encounters. In fact, all age and sex combinations are possible in the sexual interaction between bonobos.
“Penis fencing is a common activity among males,” White said.
Bonobos also practice masturbation, which White joked is “one of those tool-use functions that doesn’t make it into the literature.”
Upon close observation, White found that bonobos are not only hyper-sexualized creatures, but they also seem to be very innovative in their non-monogamous encounters. They often have sex face-to-face while they “stare into each others eyes,” White said.
In the bonobos’ matriarchal social structure, females tend to form tight-knit groups that travel, feed and have sex together. White made it clear that sex comes before feeding, which is “not really like a dinner and a date.”
Female bonobos also tend to eat before males. In fact, males never group together, but they do compete for the best access to the fruit tree upon which the females are feeding. However, food is not usually what they are competing for. After some mild aggression, the winning male usually finds his tension relieved in a sexual embrace with a female.
Because sex is used to calm tension and form intimate friendships, it is hard for bonobos to venture outside the peaceful realm. Bonobos seem to possess a sense of care and concern toward their fellow apes that chimpanzees do not. According to genetic research, both humans and bonobos possess a particular gene involved in social bonding that is missing in chimpanzees.
However, “both bonobos and chimpanzees have a complexity of thinking commonly associated with humans” White said.
This is not surprising considering humans share 98 percent of their DNA with these apes.
Because of the violent and destructive nature of their human counterparts, however, bonobos have earned a place on the endangered species list. As their habitat is subject to rapid deforestation for agriculture, and the apes are often slaughtered for the purpose of being sold for consumption. Only about 5,000 bonobos are left in the African Congo.
Though genetic relationships are present between apes and humans, White explained, “one of the things bonobos tell us is that we are not hardwired to do anything.” Moreover, “studying them both (chimpanzees and bonobos) tells us more about the variety of human behavior,” she said.
In fact, proof that matriarchal structures exist in the primitive nature of human ancestors, “proves that our current patriarchal social structure is not the only option,” said University law student Christina Stephenson.
“I think evolution is very much still happening,” White said. Perhaps a peaceful example of primitive human ancestry could aid humans in evolving to become more loving, peaceful creatures.
It was even suggested by current University law student, Jenny Holderman that “the behavior of bonobos should be brought up in casual conversation on a daily basis.” With that in mind, the example of these apes might just evoke a modern day ’60s revival.