Mammals that live in groups have longer lifespans, research finds

Researchers have found that mammals who live in groups, such as elephants and zebras, tend to live longer on average than solitary species. Photograph: Images of Africa Photobank/Alamy

Mammals that live in groups generally have longer lifespans than solitary species, new research into nearly 1,000 different animals suggests.

Scientists from China and Australia compared 974 mammal species, analysing longevity and how they tended to be socially organised.