In patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas), all group members except the adult male, regardless of their age or sex and of whether they have their own infants or not, frequently display allomothering. The mothers sometimes refuse allomothering. However, when an allomother succeeds in taking and carrying an infant (i.e. infant kidnapping) in spite of maternal resistance, the mother follows the allomother to retrieve her infant. Such kidnapping rarely results in serious injury or death (i.e. 'aunting-to-death') with infant patas monkeys. In this report, a rare observation of kidnapping, allomothering, allonursing and eventual desertion of an infant by the members of a neighbouring group of wild patas monkeys is described. Evolutionary factors relating to allomothering by patas monkeys are considered in light of these observations.

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Reproduction psychological aspect Maternal Behavior Animals Abortion, Veterinary animal primate disease Primate Diseases Erythrocebus patas Erythrocebus veterinary abortion male female animal disease pregnancy Article fetus death Fetal Death crime social behavior