Nature's sister act sees female bonobos outranking stronger males

Africa: Nature's Sister Act Sees Female Bonobos Outranking Stronger Males

Female bonobos, one of the closest living relatives to humans, have a rare kind of power - they dominate males, even though they are smaller and physically weaker. Scientists say this is because they form alliances, helping them win most fights against their male counterparts.

Nature's sister act sees female bonobos outranking stronger males

Female bonobos, one of the closest living relatives to humans, have a rare kind of power – they dominate males, even though they are smaller and physically weaker. Scientists say this is because they form alliances, helping them win most fights against their male counterparts.

Female bonobos rule the bonobo kingdom. Girl power!

Bonobo females have achieved something incredible. In a male-dominated kingdom, they have turned the tables … Here’s how they did it. While larger and stronger males often display dominance in many animal species, it’s not a universal rule. In fact, female bonobos have proven that strength isn’t everything … A team of scientists from Harvard University and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior said on April 24, 2025, that females form alli…