Effects of social interaction on well-being: Development aspects (1991)

Mason, W. A.

Abstract

Captive animals will be served best if developing individuals are raised at least through weaning by their biological mothers and have the experience of living in a social group that approximates the size and age-sex composition of the group in which they would develop in nature. ... It seems unlikely, however, that peer experience alone can provide a practical alternative to mother-rearing.