This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Daddy Day Care

--By Elizabeth Winchester

At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Kenya, wild savanna baboons spend their days lounging next to elephants, antelope and buffalo. Mother baboons groom their babies and protect them.

But baboon moms aren't on the job alone. This month, scientists made the surprising announcement that many baboon dads also recognize and care for their young. Researchers had assumed that male baboons didn't know which babies were theirs, because the males live in groups and have several partners. A three-year study shows that baboon dads recognize, and often protect, their offspring.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

By using samples of DNA, the chemical that genes are made of, scientists matched 75 baboon babies with their fathers. Half the dads that were observed stuck around and played Mr. Mom until their babies reached age three.

With their sharp teeth, male baboons are "designed to be dangerous," says Joan Silk, a professor who worked on the study. "But they can be sweet with infants." What's more, the researchers found that dads don't monkey around about defending their own. They rush to protect their offspring in fights more often than they help other baboon babies. "Life is pretty tough for young baboons," says Jason Buchan, who was also involved in the study. When the fathers are on the scene, it decreases the babies' chances of getting hurt. The scientists believe some of the ways the male baboons identify their young are by appearance and smell. Silk is thrilled that animal dads show similarities to human dads. Says Silk: "It's always fun to find out that animals are smarter than you thought!"

Next: Gifts from Giff's Heart