Feeding Competition and Play: Exploring the Role of Play in Managing Social Tension in Captive Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas)

Abstract

Chimpanzees and bonobos show increased social play prior to competitive feeding periods, suggesting that play may have an important role in mitigating conflict during periods of high social tension. In the present study, we investigated whether captive hamadryas baboons showed increased play behavior or showed selectivity in play partner choice in periods of high social tension. A high-value scattered feeding was provided at a fixed time each day, creating social tension leading up to the competitive feeding period. Using scan and focal observations, we recorded play, co-feeding, aggression, submission, affiliation, and partnerships during four distinct periods: control, early pre-feeding, late pre-feeding, and feeding. Contrary to predictions, the frequency of play behavior did not differ significantly across the observation periods. Play partner choice had no influence on co-feeding partner selection. However, during the control period, partner choice was influenced by kinship, age difference, and sex, while during the pre-feeding and the feeding period, partner choice was primarily influenced by kinship. These findings suggest that while play may not function as a general tension-reduction mechanism in hamadryas baboons, kinship remains a crucial factor in social interactions during periods of heightened tension