Role of Mother and Allomothers in Infant Independence in Capped Langur <I>Trachypithecus Pileatus</I>

Abstract

We investigated the mother-infant relationship and allomothering in Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus in Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India, from July 2001 to June 2003, based on observations of five mother-infant pairs. Infants spent 75% of the time on ventro-ventral contact during the first three months, 71% of which was on nipples in the first month, which decreased gradually thereafter. The time of contact with mother varied significantly (p< 0.01) across the months. A significant negative correlation (Pearson: r = -0.963, p n=5 mother-infant pairs; 60 observations). Infants started straying away from mothers at around 16 days of age, and moved away as far as 3 m at the age of 30 days. The distance away from the mother increased up to 5 m at the age of 3 months, and they spent about 20% of their time away from the mother at the age of a year. Neonates spent 9.2% of the day with allomothers, and this increased to 25% for the next 15 days. It decreased gradually from the second month, and allomothering was not observed from the eighth month. The process of infant's independence started at the age of 6-8 months and was completed by 12 months, with infants spending 80% of their time away from the mother.