A recent study conducted by researchers looking into a distinctive group of free-ranging feral water buffalo on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, has revealed that the closeness of individuals can indicate friendship through specific personality traits.
While humans often form friendships based on similar social personalities, our understanding of animal friendships remains limited.
Researchers from the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) have uncovered that nearby living conditions among these water buffalo are a sign of friendship and can be linked to particular personality traits.
“Our findings indicate that friendships in water buffalo are likely to develop among individuals with comparable behaviors, which sheds light on the evolution of friendships,” stated Dr. Debottam Bhattacharjee, a Postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health at CityUHK.
“Understanding personalities and social bonds could provide crucial insights into how buffalo navigate their environments across different seasons (wet and dry) with changing food availability,” he added.
Best buffalo friends forever
The study reveals that female buffalo with similar personalities are more likely to stay close together during activities such as foraging, moving collectively, and resting.
This research was published in iScience under the title “Personality homophily drives female friendships in a feral ungulate.”
The observational research involved monitoring female buffalo, focusing on those who spent significant time with each other and shared similar personality traits, such as levels of social tension, vigilance, and general dominance. Professor Alan McElligott, a co-author of the paper and an expert in animal behavior and welfare at CityUHK, elaborated on these findings.
Social tension was measured by how buffalo approached or distanced themselves from others; vigilance was observed through their sitting and movements; and general dominance was assessed based on their interactions within their herd.
These personality traits were identified as predictive of how long female buffalo would stay together, offering valuable insights into the formation and maintenance of buffalo friendships, Professor McElligott noted.
Improving animal well-being
This study is crucial because other research has indicated that strong social ties or friendships can significantly enhance health, well-being, and survival. Additionally, there’s growing evidence that various species can form bonds similar to human friendships, which can be stable and extend beyond familial ties.
The CityUHK researchers emphasize the importance of studying social bonds among feral buffalo in Hong Kong for two primary reasons. First, much of the existing research has been done in captivity, highlighting buffalo as highly social animals engaged in complex behaviors and dominance hierarchies.
“Furthermore, comprehending the social behaviors and friendships of social species like buffalo is essential for improving their welfare, with broader implications for promoting optimal health across the population,” stated Professor Kate Flay, another co-author from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at CityUHK.
According to the CityUHK scientists, the key takeaway from this research is the necessity to explore in greater depth how close social relationships or friendships impact feral buffalo populations, which can inform behaviors in other animals. This understanding can lead to more sustainable animal welfare practices and conservation efforts, particularly for endangered species.