Elephants are known for their social behavior, using specific greetings for other elephants they know. But do animals truly form friendships like humans do? In many species of social animals, certain behaviors suggest that individuals can indeed be closer to some than to others. Male dolphins, for example, forage with other males that have a similar foraging style. Primates demonstrate intimate connections to nonrelatives through grooming, which releases oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding.
Scientists have found that animals can form stable, long-lasting, and mutually beneficial bonds, similar to human friendships. These bonds can lead to physiological benefits, such as reduced stress levels. Animals that maintain strong relationships tend to live longer, have more offspring, and show less signs of stress. For example, killer whales share food and information, while hyenas with more friends tend to achieve greater success within their clans.
However, with friendship also comes responsibility. Animals are willing to take on risky and costly behaviors for their preferred social partners. Bonds of friendship can be so strong among chimpanzees that if a mother dies, a male or female friend may adopt the offspring, despite the sacrifices involved.
Interspecies friendships are also possible, as seen in cases where wild chimpanzees and gorillas form lasting friendships. Human intervention can also lead to unlikely friendships between different species, such as cats and dogs, orangutans and otters, or a lion and a dog. While some interspecies relationships have been observed, much more remains unknown.
The evidence of friendship among animals sheds light on the evolution of human capability for friendship, with shared neurochemistry that has been around for millions of years. In a world where other priorities may overshadow friendships, it’s a reminder that having friends can lead to a longer, healthier, and less stressful life. So, next time you see animals playing together or helping each other out, remember that friendship is not just a human trait, but a fundamental part of nature that has been around for millions of years.
