However, the brutal attacks that took place in 2019 indicate that tension may be on the rise between the two groups. According to Simone Pika, a cognitive biologist at Osnabrück University, the two species have been regularly observed interacting peacefully in foraging trees and even playing with one another. Given the commonalities among chimpanzees and gorillas, the two primate species have been splitting territory, food and other resources peacefully for years. Yet, most of the aggression chimpanzees demonstrate has been directed to their own kind. A likely explanation may be that new territory often means more food and resources that may be scarce in certain regions. Research has shown chimp-on-chimp violence to be fairly common, suggesting that chimpanzees are predisposed to murder. In fact, male chimpanzees are often known to attack one another over territorial disputes. However, unlike their peace-loving primate relative, aggression and violence is inherent among chimpanzees. Males can weigh up to 154 pounds, while females can weigh 110 pounds. Chimps are typically between 3 to 5.5 feet tall when standing upright. Like gorillas, they occupy much of the tropical jungles in Africa, including Loango, and feed on similar items such as plants, fruits or insects. The adult females weigh an average of 150 to 200 pounds and stand up to 4.5 feet tall.Ĭhimpanzees aren't much different. The adult males in this region weigh an average of 300 pounds and can stand up to 6 feet tall. Western lowland gorillas, a subspecies, primarily occupy the tropical rainforests of Central Africa, including in Loango National Park. The silverback, an adult male gorilla, leads the pack. These animals have been nicknamed " gentle giants " and typically live and move in small groups. Gorillas are the largest living primates, but don't let that fool you. Both gorillas and chimpanzees are primates, a biological order of species that includes humans. There's so much terminology out there to classify gorillas and chimpanzees - ape, primate, great ape, monkey - that things can get confusing. To get to the bottom of it, let's take a look at the rich history and relationship of these two species. Regardless, the question of what caused these ruthless attacks remains. It's unclear whether the same chimpanzees were also involved in the first incident. This time, 27 chimpanzees went up against seven gorillas in a fight that lasted about 79 minutes and resulted in another helpless infant gorilla being killed. It was even more shocking when the traumatizing event repeated itself in December of that year, in the same park in Central Africa. The near hour-long fight between the two groups cost the life of the infant gorilla, which was captured and beaten to death by the chimpanzees. The researchers, from Osnabrück University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, were studying the behavior of the chimpanzees in the national park when they observed more than two dozen attack five unprovoked western lowland gorillas (one silverback, three adult females and an infant). Leaves, fruit, nuts, roots, seeds, insects and occasionally meat.It's truly a wild time in the animal kingdom! Chimpanzees and gorillas have coexisted peacefully for many years, but in February of 2019 researchers were shocked to witness a vicious act of violence in Gabon's Loango National Park. Head to their enclosure to hear the keeper talk and see our loveable troop at feeding time.įollow this link for information on our keeper talks and animal feeding times.Īcross 21 African countries in dense tropical rainforests The chimpanzee troop loves their newest addition, but especially big sister Capri. On 8 December 2021, Leakey gave birth to a second daughter, Mzuri. ![]() On February 3, Holly gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, named Gandali. In 2020, we were blessed to have another chimpanzee baby born at the Zoo. Dubbed the darling daughter of Rockhampton Zoo, Capri adores her chimpanzee family, the zoo keepers and, of course, visitors coming to see her. In February 2018, Alon and Leakey brought new life to the zoo when baby Capri was born. We were then fortunate to welcome another male and female, Alon and Leakey in September 2015 from the Rahmet Gan Safari Park in Israel. In 2012, he was joined by females Holly and Samantha who came to Rockhampton as part of the Australasian Species Management Program. Chimps have a variety of skills that are passed on from generation to generation, from fishing for termites and ants, to cracking nuts with rocks and using leaves to build nests.Įight chimpanzees call Rockhampton their home.Ĭassius (or Cassie for short), one of our male chimps, was born in Coolangatta in 1971 and moved to Rockhampton Zoo in 1986. Chimpanzees are the mammal most like humans and their playful antics highlight their intelligent nature and vibrant personalities.
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