Social relationships - Gender in the Wild : Three Studies Reveal New Findings

Studies in three African nation parks reveal how gender impact family relationships in the wild.

1. Gender Effect in Elephant Societies

^<elephant societies>

The strong bonds between females continue throughout their lives. Also, males often form intense, long lasting associations with other males.
Members in the male group follow a strict social hierarchy in which each member knows his rank or status.
These strong bonds and rigid lines of authority are helpful during periods of drought when food and water are scarce.

2. Gelada Female primates with power

^<Gelada reproductive unit>

Female Geladas are smaller and less distinctive looking but they have real power in family groups.
Gelada males have little say in what the family does from day to day. Instead females have the decision making power.
No family male lasts more than four years and many are replaced before three. However replaced males do not leave thier families.

3. Gender Driven play in Chimps

^<Family of chimps>

Monkeys in captivity have demonstrated gender driven toy references. Male and female animals in wild also play in contrasting ways.
Female chimps playes with sticks mimicked caretaking behaviors. The chimps appeared to be using the sticks as dolls.
Males did not normally play with objects. They preferred active play-climbing, jumping , and chasing each other through trees.