Feeding, Foraging, and Food Sharing Behavior of Immature Chimpanzees

Observations of chimpanzees under naturalistic conditions show that nutritional autonomy increases as young individuals mature. Substantial proportions of feeding time are spent eating food obtained through solicitation. Food sharing at SOPF occurs among mother and infant pairs most frequently; less frequently between adult males and infants or juveniles, and least frequently between adult females and immature individuals. Mothers tend to share what their offspring cannot obtain independently while others primarily share what is easiest to replace. These patterns of solicitation and distribution of food are consistent with predictions based upon benefits to individuals through kin selection and/or energetic efficiency.