Flo (approx. 1929 - 1972)

Flo was one of the first females to follow David Greybeard to Jane's camp in 1961. When she came into estrus in 1963 she was extraordinarily sexually attractive to the many males who then began to follow her into camp. Most had never ventured into this strange and, to them, frightening place. But such was Flo's appeal that they could not bear to leave her.

Flo's high rank and social assertiveness influenced her offspring as they developed. Her son, Figan, with the support of his brother Faben, became top-ranking male for six years (1973-1979). Daughter Fifi went on to become top-ranking female herself.

The sad story of Flint
Flo gave birth to at least five offspring: Faben, Figan, Fifi, Flint, and Flame. She was a wonderful, supportive, affectionate and playful mother to the first three. But she looked very old when the time came to wean young Flint, and she had not fully succeeded in weaning him when she gave birth to Flame. By this time she seemed exhausted and unable to cope with the aggressive demands and tantrums of Flint, who wanted to ride on her back and sleep with her even after the birth of his new sister. She still had not weaned Flint when Flame died at the age of six months, and at this point stopped even trying to push Flint to independence. Flint therefore became abnormally dependent on his old mother. When Flo died in 1972, he was unable to cope without her. He stopped eating and interacting with others and showed signs of clinical depression. Soon thereafter, Flint's immune system became too weak to keep him alive. He died at the age of eight and a half, within one month of losing his mother Flo.

The deaths of Flo and Flint were sad events in the history of Gombe. Flo's mothering techniques and social behavior taught Jane a great deal. Flint was the first wild chimp infant whose development Jane and the researchers were able to study in detail. Flo, that wonderful mother, with her great love of and zest for life and her indomitable spirit was given the rare of honor of an obituary in Britain's prestigious newspaper, The Sunday Times.