Catching Up With Old Friends

Edgar (left) and Forest (right)

Dr. Deus Mjungu, Gombe Stream Research Center’s director of chimpanzee research, reports from the field about a recent sighting of the chimpanzees at Gombe National Park in Tanzania.

Gombe National Park in Tanzania contains three chimpanzee communities: the Kasekela community in the center; the Mitumba community in the north; and the Kalande community in the south.

Today, I decided to track my old friends, the Mitumba chimpanzees.  They were the first chimps that I got to know in the wild.  The Mitumba community currently consists of 26 individual chimpanzees.

After a little climbing, I came across Edgar and Forest.  Edgar is the current alpha male of the community and Forest is his deputy.  I was amazed to see how much muscle mass Forest has developed and how assertive he acts.  At 14 years old, Forest appears to have a bright future.  

Apart from Edgar and Forest, I also saw Flossie and her three kids (Fansi, Flower and Falida), as well as the juvenile male Lamba.  Needless to say, I was very glad to see some of my old buddies.

Lamba