All of the people: how two clans of chimpanzees gave 4-year-old bloody war

British zoologist Jane Goodall 45 years studying chimpanzees in the national Park of Tanzania at the Gombe stream. Thanks to her we know that monkeys not only look like people. Chimpanzees can make tools, have a primitive language, to understand the emotions of each other, and can hate.

Since 1974, two groups of monkeys were in a real four-year war, which ended in the destruction of one of the clans. Nothing like scientists have seen.

(Caution! The material presented in the series may seem unpleasant or intimidating)

Until 1971 chimpanzees lived as one big family. Soon, however, there was a split, and the clan split. 8 males and 12 females with several cubs went to the Northern part of the Park, Gombe stream, and 6 males with 3 females and cubs moved to the South. Northerners zoologists called Kasakela and southerners – Kagama.

Jane Goodall with the monkeys Gombe

The reasons for the split scientists believe a banal struggle for power. The alpha male of the group was strong chimp named Humphrey. Challenged his power two young males, which Jane Goodall called Charlie and Hugh. One by one Humphrey intimidated by the competition, but when they were together, it was considered wiser not to mess with them. The degree of aggression increased shortage of females. Began to break out of the fight and the group was divided into two parts.

Meeting in the jungle, neighbors mingle peacefully, but then relations became strained. Male chimps become aggressive, shout at each other, throwing stones and sticks.

Chimpanzees eat caught the small monkey

Blood was shed on 7 January 1974. In this day chimpanzee named Gobi from the group Kagama was surrounded by 8 males northerners. British primatologist Richard Rangam wrote:

From the received traumas of the Congo died, and in the jungles of the Gombe stream real war began. Nothing like a zoologist previously seen.

Monkeys at the first meeting, attacked each other, and skirmishes took place with startling researchers with cruelty. However, to intervene in the conflict could not. Eyewitness and zoologist Anne Pusey recalled:

A chimpanzee ambushed and killed the enemy to death. The carcass of the killed enemy the winners of the ate. During the fighting, 6 males, southerners from Kagame died. After competitors have been eliminated by the northerners took over 3 females, which was also killed. Chimpanzees, grown up during the war, power was transferred to a group of Kasakela.

Footage from one of the ambushes organized by the males of Kasakela:

Subsequently, the northerners faced a neighboring clan of Calanda, which was numerically much more to them. After a short confrontation, the aliens pushed Kasakela with the conquered territories.