Sex for Fun
March 14, 2010 –I was chatting to Mr J the other day and I said (as you do :) Dolphins are the only species (apart from us) to have sex just for the sake of it, not just for procreation. I bet you think I am a real bundle of laughs now dont you?
Anyway, I was wrong. Bonobos do too. They are a species of chimpanzee who also like to get it on, you know, just for fun. Funnily enough common chimps dont do it. Curiouser and curiouser.
Sex plays a very important role in bonobo society. It is used as a greeting, as a means of conflict resolution, and a host of other important social gestures. They are relatively indiscriminate about their pairings – they do not form permanent relationships with individual partners. Other than humans, they are the only animals known to engage in face-to-face sex, tongue kissing, and oral sex. Same sex interactions between males and females are common. They have a matriarchal, peaceful society.
I did read once that Groups of young male dolphins have been recorded corralling a young female away from a group and raping her. Of course, not all of their interactions are malicious – they have sex for pleasure as well. Just like in human society there are always a few “bad ones” in the lot. I swam with wild dolphins once, in New Zealand; Dusky dolphins like the ones in the picture, they are the most acrobatic of the species. The best thing I have ever done, really. It was incredible. I wouldnt ever swim with them or even go to see them in captivity, too cruel. So dolphins raping? Oh I cant bear it, they are so gentle, intelligent and playful. It cannot be so!
