Aspects of mother-kid behavior in Alpine chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra

We studied mother-kid associations for 9 mother-kid pairs of alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) from May to October 1991. Mother-kid dista nce was studied from birth to weaning of the young. We further investigated the spatial relationship between the kid and the closest alien chamois wit hin a group throughout the 6 months. The synchronization of activities betw een the mother and her kid was also analyzed. When mother and kid were in t he same group, they were next neighbors in 90% of all observations. Mother and kid were closest to each other when lying, while they were furthest apa rt when mothers were grazing and kids lying. Mothers and kids spent most of their daytime in the same group. The synchronization of activities between the mother and her kid increased with increasing age of the young. Mother and kid maintained close contact throughout weaning. The close association of mother and kid throughout the first 6 months of life of the young likely evolved as an anti-predator behavior and is first maintained through suckl ing and later through synchronization of activities between mother and kid.