Een leeuw ligt op een platform in de zon bij Eindhoven Zoo.

Social or Solitary

Social behaviour

Some animals live alone, while others live together. Some live in family groups, while others form large and complex social communities. Discover how animals cooperate, compete, or sometimes prefer to avoid one another. Living in a group has its advantages. You can work together and support each other. But living alone means you don't have to share. Sometimes, living alongside other species or even humans can be beneficial too. What would you choose? Would you rather live in a large social group like a chimpanzee, or enjoy a more solitary life like a Hermann’s tortoise?

Plan your visit

Set off and discover these animals:

Go exploring in this themed area

Een West-Afrikaanse chimpansee is aan het eten terwijl een jong toekijkt bij Eindhoven Zoo.

Chimpanzee Feeding Time - 4:00 PM

Experience the chimpanzee feeding presentation and discover how chimpanzees live and work together as a group. Pay close attention to their vocalisations, facial expressions, and cooperative behaviour while they gather food. It’s a fascinating opportunity to learn more about their rich and complex social lives.

View all educational presentations

De gewone wasbeer ligt in een ton bij Eindhoven Zoo.

Keep your eyes peeled

Take your time and look closely when you pass the raccoons and striped skunks. Raccoons spend much of the day sleeping in barrels or hollow trees, only venturing out at night to look for food. Keep your eyes peeled. You may spot one hiding in the trees or barrels!

Een volwassen en twee jonge berberapen zitten tussen de stenen bij Eindhoven Zoo.

Watch the Barbary macaques work together

Barbary macaques communicate through sounds and facial expressions. Do you hear a macaque smacking its lips? That's its way of saying, “You're the boss.” They also spend a lot of time grooming one another. This helps keep their fur clean and can even help settle disagreements. Or at least make it seem that way...

Did you know that...?

🦫 North American beavers live in family groups made up of a mother, a father, and their young. The whole family works together. They cooperate to build dams and lodges they live in, and they also share the responsibility of caring for the young.

🦁 African lions are the only big cats that live in groups. These groups are called prides. Males defend the pride’s territory, while females work together to hunt. Everyone has their own important role within the pride.

🐢 A Hermann’s tortoise digs a hole in the ground to lay her eggs. After carefully covering the nest, she leaves and does not return. The eggs receive no parental care, and once the hatchlings emerge, they must fend for themselves right from the start.

Together, we protect nature

Every day, Eindhoven Zoo and Stichting Wildlife work to protect endangered species and vulnerable natural habitats around the world. During your visit, you’ll find out more about the projects we support through Stichting Wildlife, including:

Namibian Lion Trust

One of the biggest problems facing lions in the wild is conflict with humans. Around Etosha National Park in Namibia, the Namibian Lion Trust is working to resolve and prevent conflicts between humans and lions.