Researchers from the University of Pisa, led by Elisabetta Palagi, reported a rare instance of cannibalism among monkeys observed at a safari park near Dvur Králové, a city in the Czech Republic. The findings were published in a scientific journal focused on primates, adding a notable case to the study of primate behavior and maternal energetics.
The subject of the study is Kumasi, a female drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus), a member of the mandrill lineage, who gave birth to a cub on August 24, 2020. About a week after birth, zoo staff discovered the cub had died. Over the next two days, Kumasi interacted with the corpse with the support of other members of her group. On the first day, she held the newborn in her arms, carried it close, and even brushed its fur with grooming motions. The dominant male of the group, Chepo, along with adult females and some young males, maintained contact with the body, sniffing and inspecting it in an effort to draw the infant back to life or simply to engage with the familiar scent of a newborn. A separate attempt by another male to seize the corpse failed, illustrating the social dynamics at play within the group around a deceased infant.
Kumasi continued to carry the dead cub for the remainder of the day, but that evening she climbed onto a branch and dislodged the infant from her grasp. A young male named Obudu then approached the corpse and began to move it from place to place, prompting Kumasi to intervene and push the body away. After this, she started to consume portions of the cub, beginning with the head and the abdomen. In the process, she repelled Obudu and kept another young female, Kara, from tending to the corpse. Three days elapsed while Kumasi continued to feed on the cub, eventually consuming most of the remains. Eventually, the keepers removed the carcass from the enclosure to prevent further disturbance among the living members of the group.
Palagi explains that the female may have been mourning during the initial two days, holding the cub and gazing toward the corpse while avoiding direct eye contact with the dead infant. Monkeys and great apes are known to study the faces of their dead offspring, perhaps seeking movement cues that would indicate consciousness. When no response is observed, it is interpreted as a sign that something is wrong with the infant, according to Palagi.
In the researchers’ view, there can be a pragmatic reason behind a mother’s decision to consume a deceased cub. The loss of a newborn represents a significant energetic cost during pregnancy, and the act of cannibalism may help reclaim nutritional energy that was invested in the developing young. This perspective aligns with broader theories about primate maternal energy budgets and the potential adaptive value of such behavior in extreme circumstances.
Palagi adds that the behavior may be an evolutionary strategy that helps the mother recover resources and maintain the ability to reproduce successfully in the future. The observation that Kumasi did not share the carcass with other group members supports the idea that the act provided direct nutritional benefits rather than social or communal signaling. The definition of cannibalism in this context is tied to energetic needs and the individual mother’s prospects for future offspring rather than a general social pattern within the enclosure.
Researchers also consider how age might influence the likelihood of cannibalistic outcomes. It is suggested that younger offspring may evoke stronger maternal attachments, making cannibalism less probable, whereas older infants might prompt earlier energy recovery strategies in the mother. The study opens questions about how these dynamics unfold across different primate species and social structures, inviting further research into species-specific responses to infant mortality.
In addition to Kumasi’s case, the study references prior reports of unusual primate behaviors, including an earlier incident in India that drew attention and prize money. Such references illustrate the broader context in which investigators interpret rare events and how they contribute to our understanding of primate adaptation and survival strategies in natural and captive environments.