Postconflict affiliative contacts between former opponents among wild moor macaques (Macaca maurus).

Agonistic interactions and postconflict behavior of moor macaques (Macaca maurus) were studied in their natural habitat, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Individuals were involved in 0.28 agonistic interactions per hour. Forty-two percent of agonistic interactions were followed by affiliative contacts between the former opponents. Such affiliative contacts occurred within 2 minutes of the agonistic interaction and were most often initiated by the victim's approach to the aggressor. The most common postconflict behavior was grooming of the aggressor by the victim. The present study provides further evidence of a positive correlation between a high tendency for postconflict affiliative contact and a relaxed dominance style. Captivity might not alter the expression of postconflict behavior. The present study suggests that it is possible to demonstrate the occurrence of reconciliation a posteriori by using data obtained by general focal observation protocols. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.