![]() ![]() ![]() For example, they only ate one of the infant gorillas and it was almost entirely consumed by one chimp rather than shared. However, the chimps did not exhibit normal hunting behavior, according to Pika. Chimps do sometimes hunt animals such as monkeys, and they may have taken the opportunity to kill the small gorillas for food. Pika can only speculate on why these unprecedented attacks occurred. The researchers published their findings Monday (July 19) in the journal Scientific Reports (opens in new tab). The researchers do not know whether or not the second incident in December involved a different group of gorillas. The February encounter lasted 52 minutes, and the gorillas were forced to retreat without their infant. "But then, we heard chest beats, a display characteristic for gorillas, and realized that the chimpanzees had encountered a group of five gorillas." Male gorillas are generally considered mature around the age of 15 when they. Southern, a doctoral student at Osnabrück University, said in a statement. The lifespan of a mountain gorilla is approximately 40 to 50 years old. ![]() "At first, we only noticed screams of chimpanzees and thought we were observing a typical encounter between individuals of neighboring chimpanzee communities," first author Lara M. The chimps were returning from a territory patrol when the first attack occurred. The research team was following the chimpanzees responsible for the gorilla killings as part of a long-term study into chimp behavior in Gabon's Loango National Park. Chimps, however, aggressively defend their territories against other chimpanzees and are known to kill members of rival chimp groups. The two ape species typically avoid one another, and even feed on the same fruit trees, without conflict, according to Pika. They have small ears, large nostrils, one well-defined brow and short muzzles.Chimpanzees and gorillas normally coexist peacefully where their ranges overlap in the rainforests of Central Africa. The hair on the back of the males will turn silver-gray with age, earning them the name “silverback”. They have black skin and coarse hair ranging in color from brown to gray. Western lowland gorillas are large, muscular primates. What we learn by working with these three males will aid other zoos when forming additional bachelor groups. Since then, managing a bachelor group of gorillas has been an important part of the Gorilla SSP captive management plan. In captivity, we have to help them out in that bachelor group establishment. In the 1980s the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) had to provide companions for these male offspring and also find a way to optimize the use of limited captive space. Since gorillas are very social animals, these juvenile males form bachelor groups temporarily. So it is estimated that, at about 6 to 10 years of age, those males are driven out or leave on their own. Some of those offspring will eventually mature into reproductive males that could challenge the status of the resident silverback. Typically, gorillas in the wild live in large family units (a single silverback with several females and offspring). Visitors often ask why there are no females. ![]() Since Pende has matured into a silverback, he has been less interested in the power struggle. Now, Kongo is most dominant due to his size. Chip became a silverback first and for a while was the most dominant. The hair on the back of these males has either turned or is turning silver-gray with age, earning them the name “silverback”. Half-brothers Chipua (born in 1996), Pendeka (born in 1998) and Kongo-Mbeli (born in 1998) arrived at the Detroit Zoo in 2003 and can be seen at the Great Apes of Harambee – located in the African Forest – a 4-acre habitat that is also home to chimpanzees. ![]()
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