March 15, 2021 Sharon No Comments

As one of our closest living relatives, Chimpanzees are fairly similar to us in terms of their social construct. However, unlike us, these primates are often violent and unpredictable. A new study entails that chimps are innately violent. However true that is, I know I will just admire these creatures from afar. Let’s get down to the dark and gruesome behaviors observed in chimpanzees.

Cannibalism

Wild chimpanzees mostly rely on a vegetarian-rich diet full of berries and fruits. On some occasions, chimps have an appetite for their own species. On December 2, 2014, in the Mahale mountains. A group of researchers witnessed a relentless attack on a newborn chimp. The researchers recounted the excitement when they came across a rare birthing event in the wild. However, soon after, the joyous event took an abrupt turn. Seconds after birth, an aggressive male chimp snatched the baby from its mother. Unable to defend the baby against the powerful male, the exhausted mother watched helplessly as her baby gets devoured.

In another instance of cannibalism covered by BBC planet, a tribe of chimpanzees coordinated an attack on a neighboring tribe. Following their win, they celebrated by consuming on the flesh of the defeated. Having witnessed these attacks, researchers were left baffled by this gruesome practice. What do you think drives these chimps to cannibalize their own species?

Infanticide

The birth of a baby is a true miracle. As humans, we celebrate new mothers and dote on our newborns, but for female chimpanzees, birth is an extremely dangerous and stressful event.

The birth of a chimpanzee in the wild is rarely captured. This is because mothers tend to leave the group in order to give birth in privacy. For years, this secretive practice puzzled researchers. It wasn’t until 2014, the cannibalism of a newborn shed some light on this strange maternal instinct. We don’t exactly know why male chimps are only occasionally violent towards newborns. Perhaps, infants born into a struggling tribe are seen as potential competition for food. Therefore, to protect the food supply, the newborn must be removed.

The Chimp War

Ever seen the planet of the apes? It might come as a surprise but some parts of the movie are actually true reflections of chimpanzee tribes. No, I don’t mean they speak English and attack humans with knives and guns. Rather, just like the movies, chimps coordinate raids and attacks on their neighboring tribes. The attack often ends in bloodshed and at times, cannibalism. In a video by BBC planet, defeated chimps are shown to be consumed by the dominant tribe. This cannibalistic behavior exists for one reason. To not waste their opportunity on obtaining extra proteins. In the wild, it’s crazy and it’s chaotic. Out in the wild, It surely is a case of survival of the fittest.

Violence Against Females

Sexual intimidation against female chimpanzees is a common practice amongst dominant male chimps. During mating season, dominant males often coerce females into doing the deeds by bloody attacks. The aggressive sexual practice exhibited by the dominant male actually has an evolutionary advantage. It’s simply a case of “nice guys finish last”. In the animal kingdom, the more aggressive you are, the more powerful you are. As an aggressive alpha, inferior males are less likely to fight you for a night with the ladies, and in the same way, female chimps often choose to mate with the most aggressive to ensure their protection.

Strong and Aggressive

Chimpanzees are incredibly strong. In fact, in a pound-for-pound scenario, chimpanzees are approximately four times more powerful than the adult male. The unpredictability of a chimpanzee made headlines in 2019 when Travis the chimp lashed out at 55-yeard-old Charla Nash. Travis’s owner was horrified when the whole thing unveiled. Despite the owner’s attempt to save Charla by stabbing Travis, Travis only became more agitated. Miraculously, Charla survived the attack and lived on to tell the story. However, the attack left Charla with permanent disfigurement. Travis’s story serves as a gruesome reminder that we just can’t predict what makes these wild animals tick.

They Slurp on Monkey Brains

The red colobus monkey is the favorite of the chimpanzees, and by favorite, I mean as snacks. Chimpanzees have a tremendous appetite for these monkeys, especially for their brains. Though smaller in size, the red colobus monkey often stand their ground when face-to-face with a chimp. However, these brave attempts ultimately caused their population to experience a rapid decline. In fact, by the 1900s, chimpanzees hunted up to 50% of the red colobus in a given year. C’mon, monkey! Will you just run away?