Estudio de la estructura y la dinámica social en chimpancés (Pan troglodytes) mediante análisis de redes sociales (SNA)

Abstract

Chimpanzees are highly complex social animals; therefore, their wellbeing depend on thepresence of conspecifics in order to interact with them. Those that have been victims ofprimate trade and, later, used in the entertainment industry or as pets, have suffered very282traumatic situations and huge social deprivation. Some were confiscated by the authoritiesand rescued by Primate rehabilitation centres, such as MONA Foundation. In this foundationthey conduct a rehabilitation process with the aim of allowing them to develop speciestypicalbehaviours and to live in the best possible conditions for the rest of their lives.Resocialization is an essential part of this process, as might be expected. In MONA individualsare introduced in social groups in which generally they will start to interact with each otherthrough social behaviours. These behaviours can be studied via Social Network Analysis (SNA),which reveals groups’ structures and dynamics. In this study we analysed the social structureand dynamics of the two groups of chimpanzees from MONA Foundation using SNA,according to three social behaviours. Additionally, in view of the results, we evaluated theresocialization process and, consequently, the rehabilitation process; as well as the adequacyof the clustering. The results highlight a positive progression of the resocialization andrehabilitation process, as the affiliative networks show high cohesiveness. None of the groupsshow a very strong hierarchy and it seems convenient to study the possibility of carrying outsome changes towards a better integration of some of the most isolated individuals.