Chimpanzees between the ages of two and five exhibit peak risk-taking behavior, engaging in far more reckless canopy maneuvers than older individuals. Researchers studying wild chimps in Uganda have found that these young primates are three times more likely to attempt dangerous leaps and falls from branches compared to adults. This behavior declines steadily after age five, decreasing roughly 3% each year.
Why Toddler Chimps Take Risks
The study, published in iScience on January 7th, reveals a critical link between age and boldness in chimpanzees. While human teens are statistically more prone to severe injuries, the researchers suggest that human toddlers would exhibit similarly reckless behavior if not for the constant supervision of parents and caregivers. Biologist Lauren Sarringhaus explains, “If humans scaled back their oversight, our kids would be way more daredevilish.”
This comparison highlights a fundamental difference between human and chimpanzee parenting styles. Chimpanzee mothers raise their offspring largely alone, with minimal assistance from fathers, extended family, or the wider social group. Chimpanzees cling to their mothers for the first five years of life, but by age two, they begin exploring independently. Unlike humans, mothers can’t physically intervene in high-risk canopy swings.
The Role of Alloparenting in Human Development
Human societies, by contrast, rely heavily on alloparents – caregivers beyond the immediate parents. From teachers to coaches, modern human children spend significant time in supervised environments. Some developmental experts now criticize the rise of “helicopter parenting,” where children have less unsupervised play time than previous generations.
This research suggests that caregiving patterns fundamentally influence risk-taking behavior. Psychologist Lou Haux, who was not involved in the study, notes, “It’s a really exciting avenue of research… how caregiving influences risk-taking behavior.”
Data and Observations
The study involved observing over 100 chimpanzees aged two to 65 at the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project in Uganda. Researchers quantified risky behavior by tracking how often chimps lost contact with branches. The data showed that adolescent chimps (ages 10-14) were twice as likely as adults to engage in dangerous maneuvers.
Roughly one-third of chimpanzees show evidence of previous bone fractures, but smaller, lighter chimps (and human toddlers) are less likely to suffer severe injuries from falls, making early childhood an ideal time for exploration.
Broader Implications
Sarringhaus emphasizes that the goal of this research isn’t to provide parenting advice. Instead, the study offers a broader perspective on how human parenting practices evolved. Haux concludes, “We try to build a very safe space around our children… How did all this evolve?”
This research underscores how social structures and caregiving methods shape risk-taking behavior across species. By studying chimpanzees, scientists gain insight into the evolutionary pressures that may have driven human parenting styles and the trade-offs between safety and exploration.
