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Tropical rainforest, Central Africa. With a loud roar, teeth are bared that put those of a leopard to shame. Two mandrills, relatives of the baboon, fight over a female. Because of the long canine teeth, such a fight can lead to severe injuries and even death. But lo and behold: a short time later one arrives animal give the other person their hand in front of the whole group. People often find it difficult to apologize. Not the mandrill.
Gabriele Schino, researcher at the Primate Center of the National Research Council in Rome, studies the social behavior of the mandrill. The males, three times as heavy as the females, organize the hierarchy of the herd through fights. “After an argument, the animals initially avoid each other and observe each other,” says Schino. A silent showing of teeth, similar to a human smile, then signals: I’m sorry. It is also common to brush the other person’s fur or touch them with your lips. “If there is no apology, more aggression will occur in most cases,” says Schino. To avoid this, an outside monkey sometimes comforts the victim.
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