Research Reinforces Cycle Of Violence In Boobies

Research Reinforces Cycle Of Violence In Boobies

Scientists studying a colony of Nasca boobies on the Galapagos Islands have found that young chicks abused by older birds are more likely to grow up to become abusers themselves. The birds live in dense colonies, leading to bouts of violence as mature birds attack lone chicks while the parents are away feeding. Over three breeding seasons found a strong correlation was discovered between the frequency that chicks were attacked by non-breeding adults, and the frequency that they themselves attacked chicks when they reached adulthood. This is the first evidence from a wild animal that abuse can be socially transmitted as it can with humans.

Read More at BBC Nature

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