Foods and Feeding

During the 50 days, Figan spent 57% of his daylight hours feeding. Fruits accounted for the bulk of this feeding time (52%), followed by leaves (27%), seeds (16%), and meat (3%), as described in the Figan Follow publication. For detailed descriptions of chimpanzee feeding behavior and ecology at Gombe, see Dr. Jane’s treatise The Chimpanzees of Gombe, Patterns of Behavior (1986) and Richard Wrangam’s doctoral dissertation from the University of Cambridge (1975).

Faben feeds on “milk-pod” seeds (local name: msongati ) near Peak Ridge. Figan is hidden in the back side of the tree. The soccer field is visible along the beach.

Figan chews on a “monkey-bread” seed pod (local name: kifumbe) in upper Linda valley.

Figan after snacking on milk-pods (msongati).

Figan in a milk-pod (msongati) tree along one of the upper ridges.

Figan eats “sycamore figs” (local name: mumanda) behind Dr. Jane’s house.

Figan travels with a fig in his mouth.

Figan eats the fleshy outer layer of palm nuts while sharing his perch with an old adult male baboon. Palm nut flesh accounted for 17% of Figan’s feeding time, the most of any food.

Figan climbs a “palm nut” tree (local name: ngazi).

Hugo eats “chimp spinach” (local name: kitota).

Faben in a kitota patch.

Faben shows off his “wadge” while feeding near Miff. Behind him is Miff’s five-year-old daughter, Moeza.

Miff chews on Canthium fruits (local name: magugunwa) on a grassland in upper Linda valley. Her son, ten-month-old Michaelmas, plays nearby.

Satan feeds on stalks.

Satan in a Pterocarpus tree (local name: msilote).

Goblin eats berries (local name: mshai) in the upper grasslands.

Goblin eat lamb’s tail (local name: mngizanziga) in the upper grasslands.

Humphrey showed up in Camp looking completely dishevled after three straight days eating sticky leaves from the genus Dalbergia (local name: muhasha). This three-day feeding frenzy (Days 41–43) was localized to a small area centered around KK3, drew large chimpanzee groups, and accounted for 5% of Figan’s feeding time over the 50 days. The frenzy ended as abruptly as it began.

Sporting a pot-belly, seven-year-old Atlas eats “bamboo” stalks (local name: matete).

Faben, Miff (with burlap in mouth), and probably Winkle chew on a burlap sack scavenged from near the Mess (Day 25). Miff’s five-year-old daughter Moeza has her back to the camera. Cretus Chiwaga takes notes in the background.