Darwin is back amongst the main group of male Chimpanzees, yesterday he walked past the guests brushing there clothes with his shoulder. It’s a typical Darwin trait to approach people and brush past them, sometimes he even tugs at your cloths!
Primus is still roaming the outskirts of the territory by him self, the good news is that he was spotted by one of the Japanese researchers and seems unharmed.
One of the last photo’s taken of Primus during the initial scuffle with Pimu.
While the big boys are sorting out their new rankings with in the community one of the lowest ranked males must be relieved that Pimu is no longer around. On several occasions we have watched Michio being beaten by Pimu. Michio walked through camp 3 days ago not far from the new Alpha male, Alofu. He sat and fed outside a guest's Banda then following the other males.
Michio's characteristic lower lip droop makes his face look longer.
Our guests found the male Chimpanzees in their southern territory. It was the first time we had seen them since the assassination. Alofu was in charge and was accompanied by Kalunde, Bonobo, Fanana, Orion, Carter, Christmas and Michio.
The guys were in an agitated state and our guests witnessed several of the lower ranked males displaying in there characteristic hyper state with hair bristling, arms and legs stomping the ground, running on two legs then swinging on low branches.
Noticeable in their absence were Primus the former number 3 and Darwin.
Our trackers and guides can identify most of the Chimpanzees by there distinctive calls and they could hear a solitary Chimpanzee in the distance, it was Darwin. After Pimu’s death Darwin sat by himself for hours in a tree above the body, he was also one of the only male Chimps who tried to defend Pimu. He may now be too nervous to join the group.
We thought Primus would jump Alofu into the Alpha position. We suspect he may have been badly wounded during the fight and has slunk off on his own to lick his wounds. Let’s hope he is OK, it will be interesting to see what happens when he does enter the fray again.
Later in the day as we rested in camp the male Chimps could be heard approaching. They entered around 4pm and the guests had a bonus sighting. I watched Kalunde grooming Alofu who in turn was grooming Fanana, all old freinds.
Every time a distant Chimp called they would stop look around and reply with load pant hoots. Here Alofu stands as he answers a call.
Yesterday our guests waited patiently for news of the Chimpanzees. Our trackers normally rely on the load vocals of the Chimps to locate them. The forest was unusually quite. In the end some guests decided to go for a forest walk while others just relaxed around camp. Our trackers were still looking at 3pm, no news.
At about this time Kiri left our office at the back of camp and as she got to the bottom of the stairs she saw several Chimpanzees. Kiri quickly called me and we rounded up all the guests. It was Christina and baby, Gwekulo, Puffy, Qanat and Quilt, all girls.
It seems that after the recent conflict the community has separated into friend and family units spread out within their territory.
Pimu’s legacy is the 12 healthy under 3 year old's born during his rein as Alpha male. It’s great to see Christina's baby doing well.
Today our trackers have found big males in the southern part of their territory, I'm looking forward to hearing the news. Has Kalunde decided Primus should take over and live up to his name, will Alofu be content to resume his beta male position?
Just hours after Pimu’s murder Kiri and I accompanied the Japanese researchers to the sight of the Pimu’s demise to bring the body back for research.
Only 10 minutes walk from the sight we encountered several chimpanzees grooming on the path. Two ringleaders of the assault, Alofu and Kalunde, where there and looked completely relaxed. It now seems that Alofu has regained his Alpha male status nearly 4 years after he lost it to Pimu.
I felt nervous when Alofu walked past me on the path, knowing how blood thirsty he was only hours before.
The only evidence of the fight was a cut to back of Alofu’s leg.
As the dust settles after yesterday’s murder of the Alpha male we are still in a mild state of shock. The brutal side of Chimpanzee behavior is something that we have seen before and has been well documented but it’s hard to believe that they could go to such an extreme. Even after Pimu had passed away Kalunde repeatedly smashed a large stone into his head.
You can see the ruthless aggression in Orion’s face.
Pimu looks dazed and blooded after the first assault, unfortunately for him there was more to come.
Pimu lost his Alpha male position in the Mahale community this morning and his life.
Our guides and guests watched what can only be described as a viscous gang assault by the male Chimpanzees on their leader.
It started peacefully with Primus grooming Pimu. Suddenly Pimu turned and bit Primus and the fight started.
Effie and Vera tried desperately to separate the two big male Chimps. Vera’s baby was hanging on during the struggle.
Primus broke free and started calling for help, Chimpanzees came running from all directions and the assault on the alpha male commenced.
Alofu and Primus led the assault and only two Male Chimps, Fanana and Darwin, sided with Pimu the Alpha. Alofu charged at Fanana and Darwin, Alofu knocking them back. Fanana then sided with the rest of the males.
Kalunde the King maker, asked permission from Alofu then charged into Pimu biting and pounding him with his teeth and arms.
Pimu was left unable to defend himself. Finally the beatings ended and Pimu was left severely wounded, no longer the Alpha male, no longer the leader. Not long after he passed away.
At this stage it is unclear who will be the new Alpha, will it be Primus, young and strong, or Alofu the older wiser Chimp. The coming days will tell.
