Friendly but stressed: Researchers investigate social stress in wild Japanese macaques

For social animals, maintaining stable social relationships and responding appropriately to other group members is crucial. However, understanding how animals perceive their social environment is challenging. Stress levels, which fluctuate depending on social context, offer a valuable window to examine their internal states. Previous research has shown that primates exhibit lower stress levels when they are with close relatives and important social partners, and higher stress levels in the presence of dominant or unfamiliar individuals.