Chimpanzees seen killing gorillas

[DesertRhino150]

A research team from Osnabrück University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, has, for the first time, observed lethal attacks by chimpanzees on gorillas in the wild.

In two observed encounters, both in Gabon, troops of chimpanzees cornered small groups of gorillas and attacked them in several coalitions. The silverbacks of each troop and several adult females were seen attempting to defend themselves and their families. Two young gorillas were seen being separated from their mothers and killed.

The researchers have several theories about this behaviour. It could be hunting behaviour or food competition between the species; increased food competition due to climate-change driven collapses in fruit availability (as seen elsewhere in Gabon) may also be responsible.

An article about the observations can be seen here:
First lethal attacks by chimpanzees on gorillas observed

 

[pangolin12]

A research team from Osnabrück University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, has, for the first time, observed lethal attacks by chimpanzees on gorillas in the wild.

In two observed encounters, both in Gabon, troops of chimpanzees cornered small groups of gorillas and attacked them in several coalitions. The silverbacks of each troop and several adult females were seen attempting to defend themselves and their families. Two young gorillas were seen being separated from their mothers and killed.

The researchers have several theories about this behaviour. It could be hunting behaviour or food competition between the species; increased food competition due to climate-change driven collapses in fruit availability (as seen elsewhere in Gabon) may also be responsible.

An article about the observations can be seen here:
First lethal attacks by chimpanzees on gorillas observed

War of the Planet of the apes

 

[Fallax]

I like to believe that bonobos are too enlightened for this

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Truly fascinating but ughhhh .....

Beyond scientific objectivity and on a purely emotional level think I now dislike chimpanzees even more than I already do (which is strongly) after reading this.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I like to believe that bonobos are too enlightened for this

Whilst the bonobo "hippie ape" myth is total nonsense and these animals do hunt primate prey I can't imagine them at all doing something like what is described in the article to gorillas (though if it was recorded it would be quite amusing to see the "bonobotopians" grapple existentially with it).

From the little I know about bonobo they are not as prolific or successful predators as chimpanzees and though they are sympatric with gorillas I doubt that it is in the close proximity type situations and context described in the article.

I could be wrong but that kind of calculated attack on another great ape species seems like a uniquely chimp (and human) thing to do amongst the primates.