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A new study has found that 59 nonhuman primate species have been seen to take part in same-sex activities. [View all]
https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/01/14/can-animals-be-gay/The report, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, is the most comprehensive review into the same-sex behaviour of primates ever. It includes analysis on species including chimpanzees and macaques.
It is suggested that the same-sex behaviour developed through evolution, to allow the primates to reduce conflict and build bonds in complex social groups.
Vincent Savolainen, director of the Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet at Imperial College London, who wrote in the study, said: “What we found shows that same-sex is not like something bizarre, aberrant or rare. It’s everywhere, it’s very useful, it’s very important.”
Activity between male-male and female-female primates was documented. It found that the behaviour was most common when the animals needed to deal with difficult environmental conditions, though was also documented in groups with strict hierarchies in which it could build alliances and avoid aggression within the group.
It is suggested that the same-sex behaviour developed through evolution, to allow the primates to reduce conflict and build bonds in complex social groups.
Vincent Savolainen, director of the Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet at Imperial College London, who wrote in the study, said: “What we found shows that same-sex is not like something bizarre, aberrant or rare. It’s everywhere, it’s very useful, it’s very important.”
Activity between male-male and female-female primates was documented. It found that the behaviour was most common when the animals needed to deal with difficult environmental conditions, though was also documented in groups with strict hierarchies in which it could build alliances and avoid aggression within the group.
More details at link above...
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