In the primate world, bonobos stand out as sexual revolutionaries. These close relatives of chimpanzees—and us—engage in bisexual behavior so routinely that scientists consider it a defining characteristic of the species. But this isn't about reproduction. For bonobos, sex is social glue.

Nearly all adult female bonobos engage in a behavior called genito-genital rubbing, or "GG rubbing," where two females embrace face-to-face and rapidly rub their genitals together. Studies show roughly 60% of all bonobo sexual activity occurs between females, and in wild populations, virtually every adult female participates in this behavior regularly—sometimes even more frequently than heterosexual encounters.

Males Join In Too

While less frequent than among females, male bonobos also engage in same-sex behavior through a practice researchers call "penis fencing"—two males hang face-to-face from a branch and rub their erect penises together. Males also practice rump rubbing, standing back-to-back and rubbing their scrotal sacs together, particularly after conflicts as a form of reconciliation.

A groundbreaking 2025 study from Durham University observed over 1,400 hours of bonobo and chimpanzee behavior, confirming that both species use sex—including same-sex interactions—to ease social tension, particularly before feeding times and after fights.

Sex as Social Currency

What makes bonobos fascinating isn't just the behavior itself, but why they do it. Studies suggest 75% of bonobo sex is non-reproductive. Instead, they use sexual contact to:

Reduce tension before high-stakes moments like feeding
Repair social bonds after conflicts
Cement alliances, especially among females
Express excitement over food discoveries
Maintain the peaceful, female-dominant social structure

This "make love, not war" strategy works remarkably well. Unlike their chimpanzee cousins, who are frequently violent and male-dominated, bonobo society is notably peaceful and matriarchal. Female bonding through sexual contact creates powerful alliances that keep males in check.

What This Tells Us About Evolution

Bonobos and chimpanzees share a common ancestor with humans from about 6-8 million years ago. The fact that both species use sex for social purposes—not just reproduction—suggests this behavioral flexibility is ancient, possibly present in our own evolutionary lineage.

The research challenges outdated characterizations of bonobos as "hypersexual" outliers. Instead, scientists now see them as a species that simply uses the full range of primate behavioral possibilities to build a remarkably functional, low-conflict society. Sometimes, evolution favors pleasure over violence.

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