Maternal subgrouping in lowland gorillas.

Mountain gorilla females have been reported to seek out the dominant male and to increase the time spent in proximity to him when they are caring for young infants. The study examined subgrouping phenomenon in a captive group of lowland gorilla mothers. Interaction scores failed to support the position that the male is attractive to mothers, or that they seek him out and cluster about him. The data indicate instead that the females avoid interacting with the male and rarely initiate contact with him. Subgroups and social clustering observed among the females is interpreted as preferential contact among mothers.