Does prostitution exist in the animal kingdom?

Answer 1

ur r joking right?!!

Answer 2

I'm a behavior analyst and I work with animals.

No, prostitution does not exist in the animal kingdom because prostitution involves the exchange of some sort of currency (usually money) for the sexual favors and there's no such exchange system for animals in their natural environments. (Many animals have been taught in laboratories to work for "tokens" that can be saved to buy food but they don't do this on their own.)

There's nothing for an animal to gain by offering sex to anyone except for sexual pleasure or procreation, so she has no reason to make a business of having sex.

Answer 3

In a way.

Females of some species offer mating opportunites to males in exchange for things they value, like food, or protection.

There was a story a while ago about female penguins having sex with males other than their mates in exchange for stones with which to build their nests.

However, the services the male is offering in exchange for access are often linked to their capacity as a potential partner- ie if they show they can find food, beat up enemies, find nest material, that makes them good fathers to the females offspring- not only will they be able to support her in rearing them but the babies may also inherit these 'good father' genes, and so go on to raise more of their own babies and have more of them survive.

Also, extra pair copulations, which prostitution falls into, lowers the risk that the female is paired up with an infertile or weak male. By mating with other males as well, she ensures that she wont waste a mating season, and if the extra males sperm is stronger, her babies get the better genetic material.

Why not pair up with the strong male in the first place? Maybe he's not good at comittment (I'm serious!) and doesnt invest time and energy into providing for a longterm mate. The kind of guy who'll splash out on roses and dinners for women he meets in bars but doesnt buy his wife a thing.

Sometimes, offering sex in exchange for favours is a way for unattached females to level the playing field when they are competing with the often stronger males.

Lone female purple throated humming birds are known to submit to copulation with the larger males who hold the best territories with the most/best flowers, seemingly in exchange for being allowed to pinch some of the males territory.

But wont the females end up off worse off,having to raise babies without the help of a mate? In this case the females terminate the copulation early, minimising the chance of a pregnancy.

And I havent even begun to talk about primates especially the bonobos, who use sex like others use grooming....

Answer 4

No. Prostitution requires an active choice. You must decide that you will prostitute yourself for money or food or drugs. Animals don't make choices. No animal can possibly know that its action could result in a gain or a loss. Only humans know their actions can have a known reaction.

This is an ever growing concern. People attributing human characteristics to animals. It comes from these terrible nature shows on the Animal Planet and Discovery. In order to sell their shows, they have starting giving animals humanistic character. Many of these programs are NOT made by biologist. Journalist and film makers are producing these things. Their goal of course is to make money. They don't know a thing about animals.

Answer 5

Well, seeing as how currency doesn't exist in the animal kingdom, I don't see how prostitution can, since it's about money. I guess technically monkeys could be sleeping w/ other monkeys for bananas, but it's probably just for fun

Answer 6

Affy,

Surprisingly, it does. For example when watching chimpanzee sightings on National Geographic or Animal Planet always search quickly for the one sitting next to the big pile of bananas. Payoff! Now you know......................

Answer 7

well sort of. some species of primate like bonobos have been observed in the wild to exchange sexual favors for things such as food and shelter.

Answer 8

You can say so ....

One example is chickens! The male chicken goes from one female chicken to another female chicken to fertilise their eggs. Did you think prostitutes are nicknamed 'chickens' for nothing?

Answer 9

why? you're thinking of paying one? no there is not prostitution for animals..

Answer 10

roflmao...I think it is just an open range and who ever is the toughest gets the girl
funny question

be cool...

Answer 11

Does your mommy know you are using the computer?