In many langur groups, females and juveniles may hold, carry, groom, protect, and watch over babies while the biological mother is nearby.
🐒 Why do young female langurs babysit?
One important explanation is learning to mother. A young female that has never given birth can gain experience by interacting with infants—learning how to hold them safely, respond to their calls, and handle their movements. Nature/PBS describes this as an opportunity for pregnant young females to practice parenting before their first birth.
However, scientists are careful about saying that every babysitting episode is specifically “practice.” Research has found that allomothering can have several possible benefits, including helping the mother forage and strengthening social relationships. Some studies have even found that evidence for the “practice motherhood” explanation is mixed.
👶 What does the babysitter actually do?
A young langur may:
- 🤗 Hold or carry the baby
- 🧼 Groom it
- 👀 Keep it close and monitor it
- 🛡️ Help protect it
- 🐒 Respond when the baby cries or becomes unsettled
- 🌿 Give the mother an opportunity to feed or move around without carrying the infant
