Naked mole rats, native to East Africa, live in underground colonies where typically only one female, the queen, reproduces. At the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, researchers observed a peaceful transition of queens in their colony, named the “amigos,” which defied the usual violent battles for succession. This nonviolent change was documented in the journal Science Advances, offering new insights into the cooperative strategies of these long-lived rodents. Naked mole rats can live over thirty years, despite lacking hair, fat, and the ability to regulate their body temperature. The colony, which arrived in San Diego in 2019, was led by Queen Teré, who faced a crisis when her offspring began dying due to overcrowding. This prompted the colony to adapt, showcasing their ability to thrive through cooperation.
QUESTION: How might the peaceful transition of power in the naked mole rat colony inspire new ways of thinking about leadership and cooperation in human societies?
Instead of civil war, a naked mole rat colony changed queens peacefully
