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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Nicola Davis Science correspondent

Wild female chimps live long post-menopause life, study suggests

Menopause
A female chimpanzee carries her granddaughters.
An older female chimpanzee carries her granddaughters. Urine samples from 66 female chimps also revealed hormonal changes similar to those seen in humans during the menopause. Photograph: Minden Pictures/Alamy

Female chimpanzees in the wild undergo the menopause and live for a lengthy period afterwards, researchers have found, suggesting the phenomenon is more widespread than previously thought.

Quite why some female mammals have a long period of life once reproduction is off the table has long puzzled experts: not only was it previously thought to be confined to humans and five species of whale, but its purpose has also been highly debated.

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