×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Home To Bold Columnists
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

35-year study done in Kenya shows having female friends makes humans and baboons live longer

Just like humans, baboons care for their babies too. [Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

Having close bonds with the opposite sex can have non-romantic benefits, not just for humans, but also for their primate cousins, according to a new research done in Kenya.

The study, done after analysing data for 35 years on more than 540 baboons in Amboseli National Park, found that male baboons that have close female friends have higher rates of survival than those who don’t.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in