Have you ever seen photos of apes, monkeys, otters or even rats holding hands? These heartwarming images highlight an endearing behavior seen in various animal species. As you’re about to find out, hand-holding in the animal kingdom reveals surprising insights about non-human intelligence, empathy and social bonds.
In short, numerous mammals and even some birds and insects have been observed holding hands or paws. Scientists theorize this hand-holding behavior fosters social connection, displays affection and reduces stress.
Primates That Hold Hands to Bond
Bonobos Use Hand-holding to Reduce Conflict
Bonobos, one of our closest primate relatives, are known for using hand-holding as a way to reconcile conflicts and strengthen social bonds. When bonobos have disputes over food or mates, they will often make up by taking each other’s hands and looking into each other’s eyes.
This hand-holding behavior seems to reduce stress levels and facilitate peaceful resolutions.
Researchers believe hand-holding helps bonobos communicate trust and connection. The gesture likely emerged as bonobos evolved to live in complex social groups where cooperation and empathy were selected for.
By clasping hands, bonobos signal they harbor no ill-will and are ready to move on peacefully. This allows the group to maintain harmony.
Some key facts about bonobo hand-holding:
- Bonobos hold hands both vertically (fingers entwined) and horizontally (palm to palm).
- Mothers will clasp their infants’ tiny hands for comfort and security.
- Unrelated bonobos also hold hands to display affection and strengthen friendships.
- Hand-holding occurs more often between female bonobos, who form the core of the group.
Chimps and Orangutans Grasp for Comfort
Like bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans also hold hands to find comfort. While not as frequent as in bonobos, grasping hands is an important social gesture for these apes as well.
Chimpanzee mothers will grasp their infants’ hands for security and comfort. Hand-holding between adult chimps occurs during times of stress, such as loud thunderstorms that frighten the group. By clinging together, chimps seem to generate a feeling of safety in numbers.
Orangutans also hold hands, especially between mothers and infants. As they teach their young how to climb high in the treetops, orangutan mothers will reach down for their babies’ hands for support and reassurance. Hand-holding provides stability and comfort during this learning process.
In some instances, hand-holding can develop into a lifelong habit between orangutans. Researchers have documented lifelong bonds between captive orangutans that continue to hold hands even when there is no real need for security or comfort.
The gesture seems ingrained as a natural expression of their close relationship.
| Species | Hand-holding Functions |
|---|---|
| Bonobos | Reconcile conflicts, display affection, strengthen social bonds |
| Chimpanzees | Find comfort during times of stress |
| Orangutans | Infant security while climbing, lifelong bonds between adults |
Otters That Hold Hands While Sleeping
Sea Otters Prevent Separation by Clasping Paws
Sea otters are known for their affectionate habit of holding hands while sleeping. They clasp each other’s paws in pairs or groups to keep from drifting apart while resting on the ocean’s surface. Without this behavior, individual otters could easily become separated from their group and become more vulnerable to predators or storms (Monterey Bay Aquarium).
This hand holding behavior usually involves a mother otter holding her pup’s paws, but can also be seen between mated pairs and juvenile otters. The otters will wrap themselves in kelp to keep from floating away as they snooze.
Sometimes as many as 100 otters will be seen holding hands while napping in a rafting group (National Geographic). This behavior helps facilitate bonding within sea otter groups.
Researchers have found that the paws of sea otters are surprisingly dexterous. Their paws include a strong grip and sensitive tactile hairs that help them clasp hands securely. Interestingly, sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal, with up to 1 million hairs per square inch.
Their dense fur helps keep them warm in chilly ocean waters (LiveScience).
Giant Otters Form Tight Social Units
Like sea otters, giant otters are also known to hold hands in groups while resting. Giant otters are found in South America and can reach up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length. They live in close family units with up to 10-15 members and work together to patrol their territory and hunt fish (World Wildlife Fund).
A family of giant otters will hold hands while floating on their backs at the water’s surface to rest between hunting forays. This hand holding behavior helps strengthen social bonds between the otters, who are very vocal and social creatures.
Family members will groom each other, play, and travel together while holding hands in the water. They grasp hands to make sure they stay united (National Geographic).
Unfortunately, giant otter populations have declined by over 50% in the last 45 years. Hunting and habitat loss have made these treasured creatures endangered. But their social hand holding habits endure as a symbol of companionship (World Wildlife Fund).
Seeing otters holding hands reminds us of the affectionate bonds that unite not just otter families, but many close-knit animal groups.
Other Mammals Showing Hand-Holding Behaviors
Rat Pups Bond Through Huddling and Paw-Grasping
Rat pups are known to huddle together and grasp each other’s paws, showing affectionate behavior from a young age. Studies have found that rat littermates show a clear preference for huddling with siblings over non-related young, suggesting it strengthens social bonds.[1] When rat pups are separated from their mother, grasping a sibling’s paws can provide comfort.
The paw-to-paw contact stimulates oxytocin release, promoting positive social relationships.[2]
Interestingly, rat pups reared in isolation are more likely to show deficits in social behavior as adults, highlighting how early social bonding through touch shapes development.[3] So in rats, reaching out to hold paws isn’t just affection – it’s an important mechanism for forming close relationships from the start.
Bats Join Wings While Roosting
Bats are incredibly social creatures, living in colonies of hundreds or even thousands. To facilitate group cohesion, many bat species “hold wings” by hooking their thumb claws or wings around their roostmates while resting.[4]
Studies of the big brown bat show their claw-to-wing clinging is selective – bats hook onto familiar roostmates more often than strangers.[5] The social grooming hypothesis suggests this touch helps maintain bonds between colony members.
Wing-clinging may also allow information transfer about good feeding spots.[6]
So next time you see a cluster of cuddling bats, know they aren’t just keeping cozy – they’re also networking! 🦇
Elephants Entwine Trunks
Elephant trunks are extremely sensitive tools the animals use for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, grabbing and social interaction. One of the most remarkable displays of elephant bonding is when they entwine trunks, sometimes even synchronizing their breathing.[7]
Researchers have documented trunk-holding between mothers and calves, as well as adult elephants. It often occurs in greeting or as a sign of affection. Elephants may also entwine trunks during stressful events like captivity transfers, suggesting it has a calming effect.[8]
The extensive nerve endings and emotion-processing areas of the elephant brain likely make trunk-to-trunk contact a profoundly intimate form of touch. It’s a tactile “hug” that strengthens bonds between elephants. 🐘
Theories On Why Animals Hold Hands
Social Touch Reduces Stress Hormones
Research has shown that friendly physical contact like hand-holding releases oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone”, while reducing production of the stress hormone cortisol (1). Animals that engage socially through interlocked fingers or other touching behaviors may therefore feel more relaxed and less anxious.
One study found that calves separated from their mothers experienced a dramatic spike in cortisol. However, when a friendly handler held and stroked the calves, their stress response was significantly reduced (2).
Physical Contact Reassures Young Animals
Juvenile animals likely find comfort and reassurance in maintaining physical closeness with their mothers or siblings. Baby elephants often use their trunks to cling tightly to their mothers while walking (3).
Similarly, many primate species like macaques have been observed grasping hands as they travel together, possibly helping vulnerable infants feel safe and secure (4). The soothing effects of touch also enable better sleep; baby bats, for example, that huddle closely with adults have longer and deeper rest than those sleeping alone (5).
Interspecies Hand-Holding Fosters Empathy
In captivity, surprising cross-species bonds sometimes form between animals. Koko, the famous gorilla adept at sign language, was known to hold hands gently with her human caretaker (6). Researchers believe such physically intimate gestures help foster empathy between species.
As University of Barcelona scientists explained, “Touch is vital in the development of secure bonds between species” (7). The documented examples of interspecies hand-holding provide hopeful evidence that peaceful, caring relationships can develop across traditional boundaries when emotional connections are forged.
Conclusion
As we’ve explored, hand-holding behavior has been observed in various primates, marine mammals and other surprising species. While the exact evolutionary purpose isn’t fully understood, science suggests hand-holding plays an important role in bonding, affection and emotional well-being across the animal kingdom.
The next time you see an image of animals holding hands, appreciate the remarkable reminder that humans aren’t the only species that take comfort in physical touch and displays of intimacy.
