Postconflict Reconciliation and Interactions with the Third Individuals in Anubis Baboons

A study of post-conflict behaviour of aggressor and victim was performed in a group of anubis baboons at the Institute of Medical Primatology. The following three aims have been set: 1) the analysis of post-conflict interactions between the aggressor and victim; 2) the analysis of post-conflict interactions of aggressor and victim with the third individuals; 3) the analysis of post-conflict interactions of any third individual with an aggressor or a victim. The mean conciliatory tendency evaluated according to Veneema et al. (1994) was 27.3±2.4 (n=47). The value of conciliatory tendency varied in different classes of conflicting dyads from 23.8 (male/female) to 27.9 (female/female). In most cases the reconciliation took place during the first two minutes after the termination of a conflict. In the class male/male the affiliation of former opponent males with other (third) animals occurred in the post-conflict observations approximately with the same frequency as during the matched-control period. Nevertheless, it was established that during the postconflict period the males preferred to affiliate mostly with other males or to join to infants. The index of affiliation of opponent males with the third party – other males, was significantly higher than that of affiliation of males with females. It was established that in the class female/female the index of affiliation of aggressors with any third animal was higher than that of victims; it is an evidence of a stronger motivation of females-aggressors to affiliate with third party during the post-conflict period. Females-aggressors preferred to join to other females, and females-victims picked out the males for consolation and support. Only the males actively performed a role of comforters of participants in conflicts; as a third party the males affiliated with the females-victims.