The only other mammals that experience menopause outside humans are the five species of whales.
Beluga whales, orcas, narwhals, short-finned pilot whales, and fake killer whales cease to release eggs.
According to researchers, the menopause may have developed to enable women to live long enough to take care of their families.
The scientists, who were led by a group from the University of Exeter, proposed that this was done to enable the whales to become grandmothers and care for their offspring by “babysitting” or sharing food.
They said that this meant that whereas male whales often die at an age of 80, certain female whales, such orcas (killer whales), live into their 80s.
