food
A Feast to Behold
By Jenny Desmond
Chimpanzees eat a lot!
147 chimpanzees eat more than 1,250 pounds of food each day! Every day, Tchimpounga’s residents require 1,110 pounds of fruits and vegetables, 80 pounds of soya, 55 pounds of rice, 7 pounds of powdered milk, and at least one can of baby formula and cereal.
Another Foodie Blog Entry
Latin Name: Vitex fischeri
Local Name: Mpapa
Mpapa trees grow in the valleys and lower slopes of Gombe National Park in Tanzania. The trees are tall, up to 70 feet high, and typically possess one straight trunk. The fruiting season usually takes place between late March and the end of April. During a good year, mpapa is one of the most important chimpanzee foods.
Food for Thought
In his most recent blog entry, Bill Wallauer, JGI wildlife cameraman and research videographer, discusses lamb’s tail, one of his favorite plants found in Gombe National Park.
Favorite Chimp Food
Latin Name: Antidesma venosum
Local Name: Mnziganziga
Common Name: Lamb’s Tail, Tassleberry
