Social organization of chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest, Uganda

A population of wild chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest, Uganda, was studied between September, 1966, and March, 1967, by means of habituation and identification of each individual.

Abstract

A population of wild chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest, Uganda, was studied between September, 1966, and March, 1967, by means of habituation and identification of each individual. This article deals with the grouping patterns, social units, and social organization of the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Although parties of chimpanzees form groups of many patterns according to each particular situation and have no permanent membership, many chimpanzees live within a certain restricted area and gather to form parties consisting, in the main, of chimpanzees acquainted with each other. More than 50 individuals combined by social bonds in a loose regional population which is separated from other populations without recourse to geographical or physical barriers, though it maintains friendly contact with neighboring chimpanzee residents and with strangers. No particular individual group leader can be found, but any adult, especially a male, may act as a nucleus of each party.