Updates from Gombe

June 16, 2005
GOMBE
It's Mbula season now at Gombe. Mbula (Parinari curatellifolia) fruits are plum-sized and creamy and taste delicious, rather like a custard apple. Mbula is among the few chimp foods that are tasty enough to make a person think, yeah, I could live on that. Gnarled, medium-sized trees with rough bark, they grow high up in the woodlands, where the views of the hills, valley and lake are spectacular.

GREMLIN AND FAMILY
Recently Gremlin and her kids were followed by researchers. The twins Golden and Glitta will turn 7 next month and son Gimli is now 18 months. During the morning, the chimpanzees ate their fill of Mbula. A troop of baboons joined them, gathering fruit that had fallen to the ground and climbing into trees to get fresh fruits. A red-tailed monkey climbed into a nearby Mbula tree and the calls of blue monkeys could be heard nearby. Overripe fruits on the ground gave the air a fragrant odor -- the classic smell of a good chimp tree. Everyone loves Mbula.

After filling up on Mbula, Gremlin and her family rested and played. Later in the afternoon, Gremlin's family traveled down into Kasekela valley to visit the groves of Budyankende (Monanthotaxis poggei) shrubs. One of the other tasty chimp fruits, Budyankende is at the end of its season now, with just a few scattered plants still bearing
fruit. It was wonderful to spend a peaceful day with this family.


Gimli hanging from a tree while Gremlin grooms Glitter (Photo by M. L. Wilson, 15 June 2005)

May 27, 2005
GOMBE AND THE CHIMPS
Although the mostly dry month April ended with a flourish of rainstorms, by early May it was clear that the rainy season had ended. It’s Budyankende season now at Gombe, which means the chimps are scattered across many valleys, foraging alone or in small groups, collecting sweet, orange, peanut-shaped berries from the Budyankende bushes that grow through much of the forest understory.

FORMER ALPHA ENCOUNTERS CURRENT ALPHA
Former alpha male Sheldon has not been seen very much since losing his status, but he returned to the group briefly in May, where the new boss, Kris, displayed at and harried him.

April 29, 2005
GOMBE
Although April is usually one of the rainiest months of the year, this April it has hardly rained at all. On the hills and beaches, grasses are in seed and turning from green to gold. In the forests, the leaves of many vines are already starting to turn brown.

CHIMP ACTIVITIES
Chimpanzees have been traveling high and far, eating Mbula and other fruits of the upper woodlands.

FRODO RE-ENTERS POLITICAL FRAY
In late 2004, Sheldon was replaced as alpha by Kris. However, after two years of poor health, Frodo has returned as a key player in the fascinating story of male politics. Kris appears to be holding his own as alpha male, but Frodo’s health has improved dramatically, and he may yet rise again. Though Frodo has not yet returned to the top, he still refuses to groom as we see in this recent picture.


Tubi (standing) being groomed by Gimble (on the left) and Kris (on the right). Frodo is the grey hulk behind Gimble. (Photo by M. L. Wilson, 17 March 2005)

PYTHON STRIKES IN PARK HQ
Mitumba has been the site of a fascinating incident. On April 10th, an approximately 12-foot-long python attacked, killed, and ate an approximately 50-pound male bushbuck right outside park headquarters in Mitumba. Gombe videographer Bill Wallauer obtained amazing video footage of the enormous snake slowly engulfing its prey – horns, hooves and all – over the course of many hours. Seeing this event was amazing to everyone!

Photo by W. R. Wallauer, 10 April 2005

April 13, 2005
NEW ALPHA FOR KASEKELA
Sheldon has been replaced as alpha by another male, Kris. To read more about the male politics in Kasekela, read the Jane Goodall Institute’s exciting account of the events.

December 6, 2004
FIFI FEARED DEAD
Fifi, a long-time matriarch of the Kasekela community, is missing and feared dead. The Jane Goodall Institute has issued a press release with more details.

November 12, 2004
GOMBE RECOVERS FROM AUGUST FIRE
With the onset of the rains, Gombe has come back to life. The upper hills, burnt black by an August wildfire, now stand velvety green with a covering of new grass. On the lower hills, the miombo trees, whose fire blackened trunks stood like skeletons on the hills in September, now carry a verdant growth of light green leaves. Viewing the park from the lake in a passing boat, you can scarcely believe that a great fire swept through just a few months ago. Only the occasional charred tree trunk and a scattering of palms with scorched fronds serve as reminders of the blaze. If we had not worked so hard to stop the fire’s spread in August, I’m sure much more of the park would have burned.

CHIMP ACTIVITIES
After months of scarce food, the chimpanzees are gathering in large parties to enjoy the abundance of the early rainy season, eating the baseball-sized fruits of the Mabungo Makubwa vine and the small purple berries of the Mgege tree. Chimpanzees spit out the seeds after squeezing out the juice and flesh, leaving lurid purple wadges scattered along the paths. Termite season has begun, now that the rains have softened the soil of the termite mounds. It is exciting to see chimpanzees make and use the tools for termite fishing – the tools that first made Gombe and Jane Goodall famous. It is thrilling to see so many chimps together after many long months in which scarcity of food forced them to travel alone or in small parties. The field assistants say Frodo has regained much of his strength, and he has been putting on weight, looking more like his old self.

BIRTHS
Sherehe gave birth to a boy in August. The name "Shangaa" (Swahili for "surprise") has been given to him, as we were all surprised when this young female gave birth. Candy gave birth to a girl in July. The name “Cocoa” has been given to her, following the confectionary tradition of this family (Candy’s mother was Caramel, and her previous infant was named Cadbury).

October 25, 2004
GOMBE EXPERIENCES WILDFIRE
A large and devastating wildfire has swept through Gombe. The fire was first observed on the afternoon of Wednesday, 18th August. The fire appears to have entered to park from village lands to the east of the park. Staff from GSRC and TANAPA began fighting the fire that afternoon and continued fighting late into the night. Fire fighting crews continued their efforts Thursday and Friday (today), working through the night. Nonetheless, the fire spread rapidly along the crest of the rift escarpment (the park’s eastern border). By Thursday, the fire had entered most of the park’s major valleys, from Kalande in the south to Rutanga in the north, and may have traveled further north and south by now.

The fire has thus burned much of the eastern portion of the park and has descended into a number of valleys that have not burned in recent years.

Fire is a natural part of this ecosystem, and it's possible that some parts of the park should be burned more frequently than they are, to control tree-smothering vines and to thin out the thickets that crowd out steep hillsides and prevent growth of tree seedlings. Nonetheless, a hot fire such as this one undoubtedly kills many trees (including fire resistant woodland species), destroys standing food crops for chimpanzees and other species, and has numerous other ecological consequences.

Read more from the Jane Goodall Institute about how the chimpanzees were affected.

August 26, 2004
GOBLIN HAS DIED
Read about the sad passing of Kasekela’s oldest male chimpanzee at the Jane Goodall Institute's farewell to Goblin.

June 2, 2004
BIRTHS
Fanni has a new baby! First seen on Saturday, April 24th. This makes the fourth infant born to Kasekela females this year. Her name is Familia (read more at the the Jane Goodall Institute website).

April 28, 2004
GOMBE
The rainy season is drawing to a close. Lightning still flashes from isolated clouds over Congo, and the occasional rain still falls, but the long downpours are becoming less frequent. When the clouds part, the mountains of Congo and Burundi show lush and green, not yet obscured by dry season haze.

It's siafu season! Army ants are out in force, ready to swarm over unwary researchers. The ants cunningly wait until they have swarmed all over you and gotten up to your neck (or other tender parts) before biting. I inadvertently crawled across a siafu column in Nyasanga valley today, then spent the next ten minutes picking ants off my neck and arms while scrambling up a hill to catch up with the chimps. One of the field assistants then helped me with some social grooming, picking dozens of biting ants off my back. After getting home, I found two more soldiers stubbornly attacking my socks, even though they were now miles away from their home colony.

CHIMP ACTIVITIES
The chimpanzees are scattered, traveling in small parties, as not much food is available this time of year. Frodo is alive and well, although spending his time alone. Mitumba field assistant Gabo saw Frodo earlier this week traveling alone in Rutanga valley.

March 9, 2004
GOMBE
The park is well into the rainy season; Gombe is lush and green. Millipedes are crawling about everywhere, and cicadas are humming noisily. Baby geckos cling to the walls. The Kasekela chimps spent January and February feasting on vine fruits.

MALE HEALTH IMPROVING
Most of the males who were sick last year have now recovered. Even Frodo seems to be on the mend. Having spent much of the past year alone, he has recently joined big parties and has even hunted, successfully killing a colobus.

NEW ALPHA
Sheldon has established himself as the new alpha male. He is far from the despot that Frodo was, however, and still receives few pant-grunts from some males, such as Freud.

BIRTHS
We have two new babies, from Gremlin and Malaika! Gremlin's son Gimli was born in January, and Malaika's baby, Mambo (a casual “hi” in Swahili), also a son, was born in February. Malaika is one of the first of a new wave of immigrants to reproduce. Read Bill Wallauer’s account of Gimli’s first encounter with the community at the Jane Goodall Institute website.

"August 19th is a special day. I am sure that Ferdinand doesn't know or care that it is his birthday but it was on this day in 1992, at 3:01 p.m., that I watched Fifi as she gave birth to a new baby boy. I feel a special attachment to Ferdinand because he 'arrived' in Gombe only three months after me. I have been very fortunate to follow his life from the beginning.

I set out this morning to try to find Ferdinand. He was not in the group last night at nesting, nor was Fifi, so I was not sure I would easily find him today.

Kakombe Valley was quiet when I started to search. In the dawn light I found a group of bush pigs rooting and grunting beneath a groove of palm trees. One was a large black boar with impressive tusks. When they moved away, I followed them to a clearing where they stopped to eat more palm nuts. A short time later, a troop of baboons came through the clearing and fed along side the pigs. A young female baboon approached too close to the big boar, who chased her away from the fallen palm kernels.

Eventually, the pigs moved up the valley and I followed until I lost them in the thick vegetation. I decided to return to the palm groove where I had first seen the pigs to see if some of the chimps had come to eat the ripe orange kernels. Within minutes, Freud's deep roar pant-hoot echoed up the valley from the west. I ran in the direction of the calls but then heard more calls from the very palms I had just left. I arrived just before Freud, and the first chimp I saw was Ferdinand, who was calling loudly to his older brother. He was hidden in the top of a palm tree, but when Freud arrived, Ferdinand moved to the edge to greet him with typical submission calls.

I said happy birthday under my breath as Ferdinand showed his excitement with a series of food grunts. I heard Faustino, Gimble, and Wilkie food-grunting and calling in trees nearby. A few minutes later, Gremlin, Gaia, and the twins arrived.

When a conflict took place between the males, Ferdinand climbed down to follow. The conflict was between Freud, Wilkie, and Gimble, who all displayed around one another. Ferdinand was very cool through the competition among the males. At ten years old, he is curious about male rivalry, but is too small to get involved. He is very good at keeping just out of harm's way. Freud finally ended the conflict with a decisive display at Wilkie after which the five males (Freud, Ferdinand, Faustino, Wilkie, and Gimble) traveled off together across the valley.

At first I thought that Fifi was in the group, but I never did see her. Ferdinand began traveling away from his mother at an early age. Several years ago Ferdinand started breaking away from his mother and began traveling with his brother Faustino, who is three years older than Ferdinand. Since that time he has become remarkably independent and spends most of his time away from Fifi.

Since Ferdinand's birth, Faustino has always been good to his younger brother. I will never forget the curiosity in Faustino's eyes when Fifi first allowed him to inspect Ferdinand for the first time. He reached out and touched him, then held Ferdinand's tiny fingers in his hand. Mothers are very protective of their newborn infants and Faustino seemed delighted just to make physical contact.

After another stop in another stand of oil palm trees, the group of males traveled up the steep southern slope of Kakombe. Their goal was the bountiful crop of Parinari fruit near the ridge top. When they arrived, they called with food excitement grunts and pant- hoots. I was impressed with the deep tone of Ferdinand's voice.

When Freud moved away, Ferdinand stayed with him. They traveled 100 yards from the others and climbed into the trees to look for food. Ferdinand found a large Mtwetwe fruit and cracked the thick husk over a rock. It is a sure sign of maturity that he has the strength break into this grapefruit-sized fruit. This was the first time I have seen him manage to break one open.

When Freud and Ferdinand returned to the others, Goblin and Sifa had joined the group. Over the next several hours, Ferdinand mated with Sifa several times (males begin practicing this nearly as early as they can walk). He also had a great play session with his younger nephews when his older sister Fanni arrived. Fifi (who is now pregnant for the ninth time) joined the group as well.

Though Ferdinand didn't greet Fifi immediately, he later sat with her for a grooming session. Fifi groomed Ferdinand for a short time, but then shifted her attention to her latest infant Flirt, who is a demanding four-year-old.

I had plenty of time during the day to reflect on the first 10 years of Ferdinand's life. One of my favorite memories was Ferdinand in play with Gaia, another infant I saw being born. Their mothers Fifi and Gremlin often met in the forest and the two toddled up to one another and embraced. Sometimes they would lose their collective balance (tenuous as it was) and tip over while still maintaining their hold on one another.

Another memory, which I will never forget, was on the day Ferdinand lost his place as Fifi's youngest infant. Ferdinand had a difficult time when he was weaned and was moody during Fifi's next pregnancy. I was not sure how he would react when the new baby was born. This is an excerpt from a report I wrote in 1996:

'As Fifi built her nest, little Ferdinand fed in a nearby tree. When she finished and settled in for the night, Ferdinand climbed to her and amazed me by building a nest of his own a few feet from Fifi's. In the previous 35 days of the follow I had only seen him build one or two day nests, and never in all of the time I have spent with the F's had I seen him build his own night nest. I felt a bit sorry for him, but it made me think that he would adjust quickly to life with a younger sibling. I was happy the next morning, when there was just enough light to see outlines against the skyline, that at some point during the night Ferdinand had crawled into Fifi and Fred's nest. He had not had to spend his first night alone after all.'

Ferdinand did indeed adjust to life with a baby brother quickly. He remained good-natured, and was a favorite playmate to his peers. He was lucky to have the constant companionship of Faustino through this time. The two played together often as Fifi attended to her new infant.

One of Ferdinand's closest playmates was a younger male called Titan. On many occasions the two rolled and wrestled as their mothers ate, or rested, nearby. It will be interesting to watch the two in the next few years. Only two years separates them and they will no doubt compete for dominance in the near future.

One of the most fascinating relationships here in Gombe is that between chimpanzees and baboons. Through his childhood, Ferdinand often took advantage of the many like-sized playmates within the many baboon troops here. During these interesting encounters I see all the play behaviors that I do between two chimps playing--wrestling, chase, hair pulling, even laughter.

Though I have not seen him play with baboons for a year or so, Ferdinand still has good rough and tumble play sessions with the other young chimps here. Many of the adult males continue to play on occasion throughout their lives. I suspect Ferdinand will be the type of adult who keeps his sense of humor throughout his life.

As Ferdinand's tenth birthday drew on, he became bored with the others and set out on his own. He traveled to a valley to the north in search of fruit. As Ferdinand entered the valley, I heard something in the vegetation behind us. We both turned around only to see that Faustino, Ferdinand's older brother, had decided to follow him. Ferdinand continued to lead and the two bristled and issued roar pant-hoots as they neared a tree with a large buttress. They disappeared from my view as they announced their arrival into the valley with calls and drums on the buttress. I was amazed and proud of how grown up they sounded. I honestly thought another older male had joined them, but when I caught up a few seconds later I saw that it was just the two young brothers.

They called again a short time later and Wilkie responded from the distance. A short time later, Ferdinand was off by himself again, searching for a food source higher up the valley. He lost me for 30 minutes in the thickets along the valley floor, so I returned to where I had last seen Faustino. Faustino was still in the area. I stayed with him as he traveled down the valley. He joined Wilkie and the two sat together in the cool shade near the stream. A short time later, Ferdinand returned and submitted with pant-grunts to Wilkie, then the three continued on to the south for one more long feed before nesting. Along the way they rejoined Freud, Gimble and the others.

Though he is much smaller than the others, Ferdinand is beyond his years in confidence and poise. As the six males traveled together, little Ferdinand looked almost out of place among the heavy and well-muscled adults. No doubt though, in the years to come he will prove himself among their ranks. In my eyes, he already has."