Mums rule the roost in bonobo society

Young male orcas are mammy’s boys. Instead of leaving to seek his fortune when he comes of age, a young buck stays on in the home pod, where his doting mother pampers him. She leads her son to the best places to feed, and ‘is there for him’ when rival males challenge.

In due course, the golden boy starts visiting other pods for one-night stands with females. His mother’s nurturing now begins to pay off. Big and strong, thanks to her efforts, he gets to father more offspring and, in doing so, helps promulgate her genes.