For the Buddhist faithful in Lobpuri, feeding them was a meritorious deed – but the monkey population has soared in recent years, driving away visitors and decimating parts of the local economy.
Human societies developed food preferences based on a blend of what was available and what the group decided it liked most. Those predilections were then passed along as part of the set of socially learned behaviors, values, knowledge, and customs that make up culture. Besides humans, many other social animals are believed to exhibit forms of culture in various ways, too.
Nonhuman primates clearly do more than just screech meaningless sounds at each other, but what are the limits of their communication?
After decades in captivity and a 1,700-mile road trip from Argentina into Brazil, an Asian elephant named Mara finally gained a chance to roam.
Putting the well-being of animals first should be every photographer’s goal. National Geographic photographers share tips on how they do it.