# The Figan Follow


## Pages

- [Legend](https://figanfollow.com/legend/): Legend KEY TO THE DAILY REPORTS As described by Jane in her book Through a Window, we alternated four-day blocks following Figan and his pals. We each used a cassette tape recorder to describe Figan’s social interactions and behavior. When one of us was following Figan on a four-day block, the other would be transcribing tape recordings from his previous four-day block, writing up summaries and reports from the four-day block, and occasionally following other chimps. We still have many of the original cassette tapes, which we converted to digital. These recordings reveal our own excitement while observing and describing Figan’s […]
- [Figan Follow Audio Day 41](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-audio-day-41/): Figan Follow Audio — Day 41 Brief Attempt to Hunt Colobus Monkeys Chimps Find Muhasha Leaves Date: August 9, 1974 Observers: Curt Busse and Rugema Bambanganya There was plenty of excitement this afternoon as chimps converged from all directions to feed on a patch of muhasha (Dalbergia sp.) leaves in upper KK3. The muhasha was limited to an area roughly the size of a football field. The chimps would feed there for much of the next three days before abandoning the patch. A colobus troop was nearby for most of the afternoon, and Figan made a brief attempt to hunt that […]
- [Predation Report Day 47](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-47/): Predation Report — Day 47 Figan and Melissa Steal Meat from Baboons Previous Date: August 15, 1974 Observers: Curt Busse and Kassim Selemani Figan was traveling alone near Camp when he came across Stumptail (adult male baboon) who was feeding alone on the anus of a freshly killed baby bushbuck. Figan immediately charged after Stumptail and after a 100 m chase, Figan was successful at stealing an entire leg of the carcass from Stumptail. Figan feeds on a bushbuck leg that he stole from the baboon Stumptail. The Bald Soko troop baboons arrived and fought over the carcass while Figan fed […]
- [Predation Report Day 45](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-45/): Predation Report — Day 45 Humphrey Steals Meat from Gilka Previous Next Date: August 13, 1974 Observers: David Riss and Petro Leo At 1815, Figan, Evered, Satan, Humphrey, Mike, and Patti traveled up the south side of Lower Mkenke Valley. All stopped, looking east, possibly waiting for vocalizations or just listening. They were about to move south again when they heard something that made them all go insane. All waah’ed and ran down into the valley pant-hooting. Figan displayed with hair out. They crossed the stream and charged to the base of a very large tree where they all sat. Satan […]
- [Predation Report Day 35](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-35/): Predation Report — Day 35 Mike Steals Guinea Fowl from Baboons Previous Next Date: August 3, 1974 Observers: David Riss Figan, Faben, and Goblin were in Camp at 1423 when they heard baboon vocalizations from the southwest near KK0. They hurried out of Camp and practically ran all of the way there, pant-hooting often and with hair out. There was a Faben/Goblin ASR, and as a result, Goblin avoided screaming. They reached the baboon troop (Camp Troop) and displayed about several individuals. Figan full-open-grin approaches Faben, and Faben touches Figan’s balls. Both hair-out screaming. Both whimper, full-open- squeak. They start to […]
- [Predation Report Day 30](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-30/): Predation Report — Day 30 Unsuccessful Baboon Hunt Previous Next Date: July 29, 1974 Observers: Curt Busse and Kassim Selemani ’ Figan suddenly made a rush towards the infant. He nearly caught it, too. But somehow or other it escaped and leapt to the ground. It was amazing — it must have been at least forty feet, that leap. And then the little thing landed right between Faben and Goblin!’ — Jane Goodall Goodall, J. (1990). Through a window: My thirty years with the chimpanzees of Gombe. Houghton Mifflin. Page 61. Curt reports: At 0930 Figan, Faben, Satan, Goblin, Gigi, Fifi, Patti, and Sparrow […]
- [Predation Report Day 11](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-11/): Predation Report — Day 11 Sniff Hunts Alone Previous Next Date: July 10, 1974 Start: 06:45 (nest) Finish: 18:51 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 6 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Yahaya Ntabilio [ Editor’s note: On Day 11 of the Figan Follow, while David and Juma followed Figan in Kasakela, Curt and Yahaya went south and found the young adult male Sniff in Kahama. By 1974, chimpanzees were already known for hunting in groups for colobus monkeys and sometimes sharing the meat afterward. This observation from the Kahama community showed a very different pattern: a lone male made the kill by himself […]
- [Figan Follow Audio](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-audio/): Figan Follow Audio — Sherry Rain Display Sherry performs a silent rain display. From Curt’s Field Notes: Sherry sat huddled alone in upper Kasakela valley during heavy rain and looked quite miserable. At 1406 there was a tremendous clap of thunder that really shook Sherry. He threw a rock, put his hour out, went bipedal, and branch-waved. Sherry charged and branch-waved for six minutes, going into a tree to branch-wave for the last two minutes. His display was quite unpolished; certainly nothing like a Figan display. This was Sherry’s first known rain display. Your browser does not support the audio element. […]
- [Predation Report Colobus Sightings](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-colobus-sightings/): Predation Report — Colobus Sightings Nine Colobus Sightings Without Hunting Previous Next
- [Predation Report Unsuccessful Colobus Hunts](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-unsuccessful-colobus-hunts/): Predation Report — Unsuccessful Colobus Hunts Three Unsuccessful Colobus Hunts Previous Next Date: July 5, 1974 Observers: David Riss and Cretus Chiwaga Day 6: Figan encountered with Jomeo the same troop twice, two hours apart: the first time in KK4 and the next time in KK5. Just starting to feed on budyankende, heading south or up the slope, he came across suddenly a colobus troop and charged into a tree which contained several individuals. He sat for 5 minutes in the tree watching the monkeys: the monkeys became very loud. There was bad observation as to the number of males, etc. […]
- [Predation Report Day 43](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-43/): Predation Report — Day 43 Figan Catches Yet Another Colobus Monkey Previous Next Date: August 11, 1974 Observers: David Riss and Hilali Matama The scene: many chimps on KK3 eating leaves. Included are the following chimps: Figan, Faben, Humphrey, Mike, Evered, Jomeo, Hugo, Goblin, Sherry, Athena, Atlas, Gigi, Patti, Sparrow, and Winkle. Adult female red colobus monkey, Uganda. (Adobe Stock/Gunter) Red colobus monkey, Uganda. (Adobe Stock/David) – The predation report finishes here –
- [Predation Report Day 21 Discussion](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-21-discussion/): Predation Report — Day 21 Discussion by David Riss Previous Next Introduction Since 1968 there have been 40 colobus kills recorded in the predation file. The Colobus can be broken down into the following age/sex classes: I would like to take this opportunity to relate several observations that are pertinent to this predation [on Day 21]. These were found in the predation file: observations from colobus kills only were taken. Red colobus monkeys in Kibali, Uganda. (Adobe Stock/Rixie) Previous Observations (1) August 9, 1970: H. Bauer: “I find Humphrey, Leakey, and Mike on the ground, holding a young female adult red […]
- [Predation Report Day 21](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-21/): Predation Report — Day 21 Group Kills Mother and Infant Colobus Monkeys Previous Next Date: July 20, 1974 Observers: David Riss and Emilie van Zinnicq Bergmann Editors’ note [ This was the most disturbing observation of the entire 50 days. Parts of the description are omitted due to the sheer brutality shown by Goblin to the mother. ] Introduction In a Linda korongo, the chimps Gigi, Goblin, Figan, and Faben started to feed on budyankende at 0845 after finishing mshai berries on the grassland slopes. They traveled down and out of the korongo, heading south, traveling as they were feeding on […]
- [Predation Report Day 14](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-14/): Predation Report — Day 14 Figan Catches Another Colobus Monkey Previous Next Date: July 13, 1974 Observers: Curt Busse and Hamisi Matama Figan, Faben, Sherry, Gigi, and Goblin stumbled upon a colobus troop during travel into Upper Kasakela. After a 15 minute hunt, Figan caught a medium sized ”albino” monkey. Jomeo, Nope, and Mustard arrived soon afterwards. Figan relinquished the carcass several minutes later, and Faben attacked Gigi and Sherry during the scramble for the carcass. Meat-eating lasted for three hours, and the carcass was shared mostly by Figan, Faben, Gigi, Sherry, and Nope. The previous night Figan, Faben, Gigi, Goblin, […]
- [Predation Report Day 1](https://figanfollow.com/predation-report-day-1/): Predation Report — Day 1 Figan Catches a Colobus Monkey Next Date: June 30, 1974 Observers: Curt Busse and Kassim Selemani Figan, Faben, Humphrey, Mike, and Jomeo came across a colobus troop during travel through Upper Linda Valley. After only five minutes Figan caught a medium-sized monkey. Nope, Mustard, Harmony, and Beethoven were present. Goblin, Miff, Moeza, Gigi, and Sprout arrived later and the meat was widely distributed. Mike was successful at obtaining the largest part of the carcass. There was considerable ASR during the meat- eating, including two attacks on Gigi and later attacks on Patti and Nope. Meat-eating lasted […]
- [Figan Follow Predation Reports](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-predation-reports/): Figan Follow Predation Reports NOTICE: We reported these predatory incidents as objectively as possible, but some of the reports that follow are gruesome and graphic. Unlike the “Stranger Contacts,” in which we saw relatively little activity, the fifty days of Figan produced a wealth of information on chimpanzee predatory behavior. The chimps’ main prey was red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus tephrosceles), which lived in relatively large groups of 30 – 50 individuals, and which were typically seen in tall trees in the forests. Mother and infant red colobus monkeys in Uganda. (Adobe Stock/prochym) During the 50 days we saw or heard colobus […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 12](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-12/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 12 Miscellaneous Chimp Photos Previous Next Coming in June, 2026
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 8](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-8/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 8 Hunting and Meat-Eating Previous Next Coming in June, 2026
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 4](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-4/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 4 Kahama Females Previous Next Coming in June, 2026
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 3](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-3/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 3 Kahama Males Previous Next The Kasakela chimpanzee community began to fracture after alpha male Mike’s fall from power in 1971. As Humphrey and Charlie (with Hugh’s backing) vied for dominance, a significant faction broke away. This splinter group — comprised of seven males (Charlie, Hugh, Goliath, Godi, Dé, Willy Wally, and Sniff) along with several females — established itself to the south, becoming the distinct Kahama community by 1973.1 Hugh disappeared in late 1972 of unknown causes.2 Godi and Dé were attacked by gangs of Kasakela chimps3 in early 1974, and were presumed dead before the […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 2](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-2/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 2 Kasakela Females Previous Next Melissa In 1974, Melissa was quite a social and integrated member of the Kasakela community, along with her son Goblin (age 10) and daughter Gremlin (age 5). Later, Melissa would give birth to twins — as would Gremlin, who would go on to become an important matriarch in Kasakela. Gremlin and Melissa in hopes of receiving bananas. Gremlin attempts to suckle while Goblin raises a question. Melissa and Goblin groom each other while Gremlin rests. Melissa pant-grunts and cradles Gremlin while encountering the alpha male, Figan, on a forest trail. Figan’s […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 11](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-11/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 11 More Photos of Figan Previous Next Here is a collection of random photos of Figan not found in the other galleries. Figan rests in Chimp Camp. Figan sits in a magugunwa tree along a ridge in an upper valley. Figan had an ideosyncratic behavior of flipping his upper lip (“lip-flip”). This could happen even when he was alone and resting — it did not appear to have any communicative significance. Figan upside-down lip-flip. (Yes, we recorded all observed incidences of lip-flips during the fifty days). Figan tests Ektachrome … versus Kodachrome. Figan in a tree […]
- [Figan Follow Day 38](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-38/): Figan Follow — Day 38 Patrol to Bare-tree Korongo Previous Next Date: August 6, 1974 Start: 09:59 Finish: 19:25 (nest) Duration: 9 hr. 26 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Petro Leo Curt’s Report. Figan was found traveling into Camp at 0959 (from east). Several Figan pant-hoots had been heard on Dung Hill where he had probably been feeding on ngazi. Sherry, Jomeo, Goblin, and Pallas all avoided as Figan displayed into Camp. Figan drum-displayed once before traveling half way down the main Camp trail where he fed on ngazi in the same tree where Faben had fed earlier in the day. […]
- [Figan Follow Day 50](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-50/): Figan Follow — Day 50 Multiple Matings with Gigi Previous Date: August 18, 1974 Start: 06:56 (nest) Finish: 19:00 Duration: 12 hr. 4 min. Observers: Curt Busse and David Riss Curt’s Report. Figan, Faben, Goblin, Humphrey, Fifi, and Gigi un-nested and fed briefly on muguiza before traveling back to Lower Kasakela from LK9. Nope, Mustard, Sprout, and Spray were also present at the nesting site but stayed behind as the group traveled off. Both Faben and Humphrey solicited from Gigi and were unsuccessful. The group scattered apart in Lower Kasakela; Figan and Faben did displays upon rejoining Mike, Fifi, Goblin, and […]
- [Figan Follow Day 49](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-49/): Figan Follow — Day 49 Travel from Mkenke to Rutanga Previous Next Date: August 17, 1974 Start: 06:45 (nest) Finish: 19:35 Duration: 12 hr. 50 min. Observers: David Riss and Molly Brecht David’s Report. Figan, Faben, and Gigi headed quickly back toward Camp from SK1 and were eating ngazi on the south side of the stream near Camp when they heard something in Camp. Figan and Faben ran to Camp with hair-out and displayed at Hugo who had bananas. Faben briefly attacked Hugo (contact II) in his display. They were in Camp at 0740. Faben left Gigi and Figan at 0822. […]
- [Figan Follow Day 48](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-48/): Figan Follow — Day 48 Feeding in Mkenke Valley Previous Next Date: August 16, 1974 Start: 06:35 (nest) Finish: 17:55 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 20 min. Observers: David Riss and Donna Anderson David’s Report. Figan un-nested near Camp and ate ngazi before arriving to get some bananas right after Gigi. Satan, Patti, Athena, Atlas, and Sparrow in Camp after he finished. Faben came into Camp with a piece of the bushbuck skin from the predation yesterday (see Day 47 by Busse). Sparrow and Satan seemed interested in this and Sparrow began hand-to-mouth begging somewhat frantically. Faben got fed up and charged, […]
- [Figan Follow Day 47](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-47/): Figan Follow — Day 47 Figan Steals Meat From Baboons Previous Next Date: August 15, 1974 Start: 06:55 (nest) Finish: 18:40 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 45 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Kassim Selemani Curt’s Report. A few minutes after un-nesting there were more distant pant-hoots from Lower Kasakela (unquestionably Evered). Figan put hair out and led travel to search for these chimps. Pallas, Gilka, and Evered were at the stream, and after general arrival displays by Figan and Mike, Figan displayed at Evered who screamed and avoided. Evered and Mike followed Figan (mostly hair-out) back to Camp. Melissa, Gremlin, and Goblin. […]
- [Figan Follow Day 46](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-46/): Figan Follow — Day 46 All Day With Mike Previous Next Date: August 14, 1974 Start: 06:57 (nest) Finish: 17:41 (nest) Duration: 10 hr. 44 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Yassini Selemani Curt’s Report. Figan did a brief branching display as he descended from his nest at 0657. Satan and Evered, who had nested here last night, weren’t seen this morning. One- by-one Humphrey, Patti, and Mike left Figan as he traveled up Sleeping Valley, feeding briefly on muguiza, ngazi, and kitota. Drumming tree along the path in Upper KK1. As Figan traveled alone into Upper KK1 he ran across a […]
- [Figan Follow Day 45](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-45/): Figan Follow — Day 45 Humphrey Steals Meat from Gilka Previous Next Date: August 13, 1974 Start: 06:50 (nest) Finish: 19:30 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 40 min. Observers: David Riss and Petro Leo David’s Report. Figan fed on ngazi with Nope and Mustard and later Fifi in Kasakela before resting for an hour from 0835 to 0935 before hitting Camp. There he stayed five hours with Evered, Patti, and Satan. Later Humphrey, Jomeo, and Mike joined them. Some interesting ASSR as discussed in ASR report of this summary. Gilka (age 14 ) sits in camp. Figan mainly groomed with Jomeo (two […]
- [Figan Follow Day 44](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-44/): Figan Follow — Day 44 Long Solitary Travel Previous Next Date: August 12, 1974 Start: 06:35 (nest) Finish: 18:20 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 45 min. Observers: David Riss and Yassini Selemani David’s Report. After some ngazi feeding, Figan hit Camp where he stayed an hour with Humphrey. He left and Goblin and Humphrey followed him up to KK2 and KK3. There he passed up muhasha and traveled to KK4 with Goblin where they briefly fed on mnazi and then muguiza. He soon found himself traveling to KK6, across the valley, to feed on his muguiza tree. He returned to the Dell […]
- [Figan Follow Day 43](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-43/): Figan Follow — Day 43 Figan Catches Yet Another Colobus Monkey Three Day Muhasha Feeding Frenzy Ends Previous Next Date: August 11, 1974 Start: 06:45 (nest) Finish: 19:35 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 50 min. Observers: David Riss and Hilali Matama David’s Report. After two and one half hours of muhasha, and after Evered, Jomeo, Sherry, and Hugo arrival with displays by Figan – Figan, Goblin, Gigi, Evered, and Jomeo started to move south up the KK3 korongo. Evered heard some colobus nearby which Figan had ignored for two days and started to hunt them. Figan, Gigi, Goblin, and Faben joined in […]
- [Figan Follow Day 42](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-42/): Figan Follow — Day 42 Silent Travel to Mkenke More Muhasha Feeding Previous Next Date: August 10, 1974 Start: 07:35 Finish: 20:01 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 26 min. Observers: David Riss and Emilie van Zinnicq Bergmann David’s Report. Figan was not found in his nest where he was nested at 2008 the previous night. After many vocalizations, Figan was found with other chimps on the top of Sleeping Buffalo, still in the KK3 korongo. There the chimps continued to feed on the new leaves that they discovered the day before: muhasha. They fed there from 0730 to 1010 when Sparrow screamed […]
- [Figan Follow Day 41](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-41/): Figan Follow — Day 41 Chimps find Muhasha Leaves Previous Next Date: August 9, 1974 Start: 06:19 (nest) Finish: 20:09 (nest) Duration: 13 hr. 50 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Rugema Bambanganya Curt’s Report. Figan pulled a classic maneuver this morning as he and Patti un-nested upon our arrival at 0619. Figan traveled by moonlight straight back to Kakombe, pant-hoot-drum displaying three times during travel, and feeding on ngazi before entering Camp. Pom pant-grunted, approached, close-faced, dabbed, and avoided as Figan arm-threatened her. Faben arrived in Camp a few minutes later and there was no response. Figan and Patti traveled to […]
- [Figan Follow Day 40](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-40/): Figan Follow — Day 40 Figan Steals his Dossier from our Office! Previous Next Date: August 8, 1974 Start: 06:40 (nest) Finish: 17:54 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 14 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Petro Leo Curt’s Report. Figan was found feeding in a nearby ngazi tree at 0640. After 1 ½ hours of ngazi and mtobogoro feeding, Figan and Faben traveled to Camp where they met Satan. Figan displayed at Satan who avoided. Figan then walked into our office in Pan Palace and walked out with the BARF (Behavior, Associations, and Ranging of Figan) study analysis folder. David Riss rushed over […]
- [Figan Follow Day 39](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-39/): Figan Follow — Day 39 RIP Bolivar Previous Next Date: August 7, 1974 Start: 06:44 (nest) Finish: 17:38 (nest) Duration: 10 hr. 54 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Adriano Bandora Curt’s Report. Figan un-nested at 0645 and fed with an adult male baboon on ngazi for a while before traveling back to KK2 with Faben and Gigi. Figan and Faben did four sets of pant-hoot-drum displays during travel. The group split up at Lower KK2. Figan fed on ngazi for an hour before traveling to Camp where he met Mike, Hugo, and Pallas. Winkle, Miff, and Moeza arrived later and Figan […]
- [Figan Follow Day 37](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-37/): Figan Follow — Day 37 Evered is Very Submissive to Figan Previous Next Date: August 5, 1974 Start: 06:45 (nest) Finish: 14:30 (lost) Duration: 7 hr. 45 min. Observers: David Riss and Molly Brecht David’s Report. Another exciting day with lots of displays. Figan un-nested at Linda Peak and tried some kifumbe, which was very dry and dead. He then walked to the edge of Kasakela and looked down, deciding where to go. He finally made up his mind after some wandering about and hit the muguiza tree at the Kasakela waterfall. He soon left and displayed east of The Peak […]
- [Figan Follow Day 36](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-36/): Figan Follow — Day 36 Figan Destroys Evered’s Nest Previous Next Date: August 4, 1974 Start: 06:30 (nest) Finish: 17:45 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 15 min. Observers: David Riss and Yahaya Ntabilio David’s Report. Figan awoke early to display four times and drum twice in the presence of Evered and Humphrey. Evered avoided his nest at 0630 and Figan proceeded to destroy it. He went off on his own to eat ngazi until 0745. He returned to the nesting site to find no one … He then drummed twice, but no one answered him. He saw Atlas near the Dell and […]
- [Figan Follow Day 35](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-35/): Figan Follow — Day 35 Mike Steals Bird from Baboons Evered Returns Previous Next Date: August 3, 1974 Start: 07:00 (nest) Finish: 19:30 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 30 min. Observers: David Riss David’s Report. Quite an exciting day! Upon un-nesting around 0700, Melissa, Fifi, Figan, Freud, Goblin, and Patti went north to a mumanda tree and met Nope, Mustard, Athena, and Atlas. Figan soon left by himself and headed to the beach for ngazi, but A-troop baboons were there, and he decided to leave. Figan climbs into an ngazi tree. He returned to Kasakela where he saw Gigi and Pallas and […]
- [Figan Follow Day 34](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-34/): Figan Follow — Day 34 Another Quiet Day Previous Next Date: August 2, 1974 Start: 06:45 (nest) Finish: 18:05 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 20 min. Observers: David Riss and Cretus Chiwaga David’s Report. Figan was un-nested in Kasakela alone. He hurried back in the direction of Camp, displaying four times near Plum Tree Thicket. He wandered among the houses, trying to find a fruiting ngazi, but had no success. He entered Camp and was given bananas. Ten minutes later he heard pant-hoots to the east and left Camp and found Sherry in a favorite ngazi tree. Sherry left shortly and Winkle […]
- [Figan Follow Day 33](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-33/): Figan Follow — Day 33 Figan Upends Molly Brecht Previous Next Date: August 1, 1974 Start: 06:41 (nest) Finish: 17:32 (nest) Duration: 10 hr. 51 min. Observers: Curt Busse Curt’s Report. Figan un-nested at 0641 and fed on mumanda with Hugo, Faben, Satan, Sherry, Jomeo, Goblin, Mustard, Nope, Miff, Moeza, Fifi, and Patti for 20 minutes before following Hugo down to the beach where they fed on ngazi. Hamburg (baboon) joined Figan and Hugo briefly in the ngazi tree. Figan then followed Hugo along the beach past the Mess to the muguiza tree where they fed for ½ hour. Figan poses […]
- [Figan Follow Day 32](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-32/): Figan Follow — Day 32 Travel to the Rutanga Stream Previous Next Date: July 31, 1974 Start: 06:59 (nest) Finish: 18:57 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 58 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Cretus Chiwaga Curt’s Report. After displaying at unidentified chimps (perhaps Harmony and Beethoven) upon un-nesting, Figan left the large group and traveled to the mumanda tree near the Kasakela stream where he met Faben, Goblin, Melissa, Athena, Atlas, and later Patti. The group fed quietly for an hour then at 0809 Figan badly attacked Patti. Patti screamed intensely for over a minute before Figan reassured her with an inspection. Figan […]
- [Figan Follow Day 31](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-31/): Figan Follow — Day 31 Figan is Tolerant of Michaelmas Previous Next Date: July 30, 1974 Start: 09:10 Finish: 18:29 (nest) Duration: 9 hr. 19 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Cretus Chiwaga Curt’s Report. Figan was not found in his nest, but was picked up at 0910 as he entered Camp alone. Figan inspected Bolivar the Bushpig’s home then rested on the banana trench for ½ hour before leaving Camp to feed at the muguiza tree near the Mess. As Figan descended the tree at 1058 Gigi arrived. They groomed briefly then traveled rapidly to lower Kasakela where Figan spent the […]
- [Figan Follow Day 30](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-30/): Figan Follow — Day 30 Figan Hunts Baboons and Colobus Waterfall Display Previous Next Date: July 29, 1974 Start: 07:42 Finish: 18:00 (nest) Duration: 10 hr. 18 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Kassim Selemani “Peering through the foliage, Curt spotted a very small baboon — little more than an infant — high near the top of a dead tree thickly draped in vines. There was an adult male baboon feeding some thirty yards away, but he had taken no notice as Figan slowly climbed towards his intended victim. ‘Fig suddenly made a rush towards the infant. He nearly caught it, too. […]
- [Figan Follow Day 29](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-29/): Figan Follow — Day 29 Figan Dreams About Gigi? Previous Next Date: July 28, 1974 Start: 06:25 (nest) Finish: 16:35 (interim nest) Duration: 10 hr. 10 min. Observers: David Riss and Jim Moore David’s Report. Hugo, Humphrey, and Patti were up early after Figan displays at 0625. They fed on mumanda and were joined by Nope and Jomeo. Humphrey, Hugo, and Figan at 0730 moved to the beach and fed on cardboard, burlap bag, and ngazi among A-troop baboons. Patti walks along the Linda Beach. A solitary mango tree stands next to Lake Tanganyika. They traveled along the beach to the […]
- [Figan Follow Day 28](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-28/): Figan Follow — Day 28 Uneventful Day Previous Next Date: July 27, 1974 Start: 07:03 (nest) Finish: 19:30 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 27 min. Observers: David Riss David’s Report. Figan and Faben traveled to the stream’s muguiza via Plum Tree Thicket instead of going to Camp first this morning. They later hit Camp after traveling with Gigi up the south side of the stream. They waited for the flat Gigi often. He spent an hour and a half in Camp with Faben, Mike, Sherry, and Gigi. Random thorns. Figan, Faben, and Gigi left Camp around noon and headed east to the […]
- [Figan Follow Day 26](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-26/): Figan Follow — Day 26 Banana Day Previous Next Date: July 25, 1974 Start: 07:18 (nest) Finish: 17:57 (nest) Duration: 10 hr. 39 min. Observers: David Riss and Njuma Rukamata David’s Report. Figan and Faben headed to Camp after mumanda feeding in Kasakela. They were given bananas there and then headed west to the muguiza tree near the stream and downstairs. After a short feeding period, they rested and groomed from 1110 to 1320. Slowly they traveled with Mike south across the stream and ate mkuyu, cardboard, and matete near the soccer field. They then returned to the muguiza tree where […]
- [Figan Follow Day 27](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-27/): Figan Follow — Day 27 Colobus Monkey Shoves Figan Previous Next Date: July 26, 1974 Start: 07:00 (nest) Finish: 18:05 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 5 min. Observers: David Riss and Hamisi Matama David’s Report. The brothers along with Mike and Pallas ate muguiza until 0725 and then they headed to Camp. Figan ate ngazi alone near the Dell. He then met up with Jomeo and Pallas for a short time and then left them to find and display under Humphrey‘s tree. Sparrow was nearby. Athena and Atlas nearby. They started to walk back to Camp from the waterfall area, and the […]
- [Figan Follow Day 25](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-25/): Figan Follow — Day 25 Figan Stomps Faben while Competing for Burlap Previous Next Date: July 24, 1974 Start: 07:06 (nest) Finish: 18:05 (nest) Duration: 10 hr. 59 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Cretus Chiwaga Curt’s Report. Figan fed on mnazi for 15 minutes before going to the Plum Tree Thicket drumming tree where he drummed twice before feeding on muguiza. Patti arrived (ASR) as Figan descended and traveled to a nearby ngazi tree where he displaced an adult male baboon before feeding. Goblin arrived and was submissive to Figan as Figan changed ngazi trees. At 0812, Sherry attacked Passion and […]
- [Figan Follow Day 24](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-24/): Figan Follow — Day 24 Figan Eats Cardboard Patti Begs Previous Next Date: July 23, 1974 Start: 07:12 (nest) Finish: 19:16 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 4 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Hamisi Mkono Curt’s Report. Figan was out of his nest at 0712 and he waited 20 minutes for Faben to un-nest before feeding on nearby msongati for an hour. Figan and Faben then made a B-line for Camp. They displayed at Peak Ridge, but surprisingly did nothing as they passed the Plum Tree Thicket drum. Nope and Mustard had been passed during travel through AK2. Hugo and Mike were in […]
- [Figan Follow Day 23](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-23/): Figan Follow — Day 23 Figan Streambed Display Previous Next Date: July 22, 1974 Start: 07:11 (nest) Finish: 18:14 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 3 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Cretus Chiwaga Curt’s Report. Fifi and Winkle were found nested with the group this morning. Brief mnazi feeding preceded travel to a mumanda tree in Lower Kasakela, which would later turn out to be a favorite feeding source for the chimps. Figan merely sat and waited as Faben, Goblin, and Winkle fed for 15 minutes. Figan then led travel to another mumanda tree at the korongo north of Kasakela. This time Figan […]
- [Figan Follow Day 22](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-22/): Figan Follow — Day 22 Group Attack on Evered Gigi Splatters Curt Previous Next Date: July 21, 1974 Start: 07:00 (nest) Finish: 18:30 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 30 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Esilom Mpongo “A month later Figan and Faben encountered Evered after a two-week separation. Curt observed the reunion which took place in a tall tree. It was tense and dramatic. Figan and Evered embraced, both screaming. The other chimps present were watching intently. They too were highly excited and screaming loudly. ‘I was looking up, doing my best to see exactly what was happening,’ said Curt, ‘when the […]
- [Figan Follow Day 21](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-21/): Figan Follow — Day 21 Group Kills Mother and Infant Colobus Monkeys Previous Next Date: July 20, 1974 Start: 06:50 (nest) Finish: 19:15 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 25 min. Observers: David Riss and Emilie van Zinnicq Bergmann David’s Report. Interesting Events: (1) Colobus Mother-Infant Kill (see Predation Report) Adult female red colobus monkey in Mitumba Valley, Gombe National Park, 2024, fifty years after the Figan Follow (photo by Curt Busse). Goblin (aka “The Great Gobbers”) eating mnziganziga (lamb’s tail). (2) Figan‘s continued interest in Gigi (B=1) and how she influences travel. Figan, Faben, Gigi, and Goblin (who have been traveling together […]
- [Figan Follow Day 20](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-20/): Figan Follow — Day 20 Figan Reaction to Faben/Gigi Mating Previous Next Date: July 19, 1974 Start: 06:52 (nest) Finish: 19:09 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 17 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Cretus Chiwaga Curt’s Report. Figan, Faben, Gigi, and Goblin un-nested in Lower Kasakela and traveled uphill to mnazi trees where Satan, Sherry, and Jomeo were feeding. Figan and Faben displayed upon arrival and many pant-bobs were heard (bad observation, probably Satan). Two minutes later Figan and Faben displayed again. There were pant-grunts by Sherry. Faben then copulated with Gigi and immediately afterwards Figan attacked Faben. Figan then copulated with Gigi. […]
- [Figan Follow Day 19](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-19/): Figan Follow — Day 19 Figan Waits and Mates with Gigi Previous Next Date: July 18, 1974 Start: 06:45 (nest) Finish: 19:15 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 30 min. Observers: David Riss and Hilali Matama David’s Report. Another uneventful day as they un-nested and ate kifumbe, headed to The Peak and Rocky Peak area, and then traveled down KK7 and KK6 to the Dell and to Camp. What was interesting was Faben‘s departure from 1000 to 1119 and from 1120 to 1200 from Figan and Gigi. He soon caught up and they traveled together for the rest of the day. Figan sits […]
- [Figan Follow Day 18](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-18/): Figan Follow — Day 18 Figan “Fishes” for Ants Previous Next Date: July 17, 1974 Start: 07:05 (nest) Finish: 19:10 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 5 min. Observers: David Riss and Hilali Matama David’s Report. A quiet day with Figan and Faben returning to Camp via ngazi to meet Goblin, Hugo, and Gilka. They traveled east to find Satan and Gigi. Gigi traveled with them and Goblin and Patti the rest of the day, leaving Gilka, Hugo, Satan, and Sparrow. The highlight of the day was a Sparrow/Patti full-open-grin whimpering, screaming and squeaking hand dabbing at each other as Figan and Faben […]
- [Figan Follow Day 17](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-17/): Figan Follow — Day 17 Much Aggression Involving Females Previous Next Date: July 16, 1974 Start: 07:00 (nest) Finish: 18:45 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 45 min. Observers: David Riss and Hilali Matama David’s Report. The morning started off with an attack on the unhabituated mother-infant that has been seeing frequently lately (see BETA on July 16th on Evered for details) by Figan and Faben. Figan and Faben split off on their own and encountered the mother-infant pair [Harmony and Beethoven] once again and displayed past them. They met up with Gigi, Athena, Sherry, and Jomeo again in Upper Kasakela. Patti, Gigi, […]
- [Figan Follow Day 16](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-16/): Figan Follow — Day 16 Figan Re-located Previous Next Date: July 15, 1974 Start: 13:00 Finish: 19:00 (nest) Duration: 6 hr. 0 min. Observers: David Riss and Yassini Selemani David’s Report. Figan was lost on Day 15 by Busse at the Kakombe waterfall. Busse found and followed Gigi and Faben northwards, but after 3 hours quit as Figan had not rejoined them. Evered was nested that night and Riss followed until 1200 the following day, but Evered was with Gilka and heading up KK3 when the follow was interrupted as there was little hope of finding Figan. Later, we were informed […]
- [Figan Follow Day 15](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-15/): Figan Follow — Day 15 Figan, Faben, and Gigi Perform Waterfall Displays Figan Disappears Previous Next Date: July 14, 1974 Start: 07:25 (nest) Finish: 10:35 (lost) Duration: 3 hr. 10 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Hamisi Matama Curt’s Report. Figan was not found in his nest, but was located at 0725 feeding on mnazi closer to Peak Ridge with Humphrey and Satan. Goblin, Miff, and Moeza arrived soon afterwards. Figan later displayed into a nearby msongati tree and there were many pant- hoots as Humphrey and Goblin joined him. Humphrey approached Figan and there was a mutual full-open bite-kiss for 15 […]
- [Figan Follow Day 14](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-14/): Figan Follow — Day 14 Figan Catches Another Colobus Monkey Previous Next Date: July 13, 1974 Start: 07:01 (nest) Finish: 19:55 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 54 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Hamisi Matama Curt’s Report. Gigi and Goblin descend to the ground at 0655. Figan displays to the ground and gets caught in the vines. This was one of the most bizarre beginnings to a follow as the chimps could never get their signals straight as to what they wanted to do. At first the group waited for Faben, then moved to the west where we had seen a colobus troop […]
- [Figan Follow Day 13](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-13/): Figan Follow — Day 13 Jomeo/Sherry Reunion Previous Next Date: July 12, 1974 Start: 07:00 (nest) Finish: 18:45 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 45 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Hamisi Matama Curt’s Report. This large group un-nested quietly and traveled uphill to the mnazi trees where two rounds of pant-hoots preceded feeding. Msongati feeding followed and the large group then traveled to Jane’s house for breakfast (mumanda). During travel Faben displayed at and hit Goblin. Atlas beat up Moeza, who was then reassured by Freud. Figan (right) grooms Humphrey. Figan led travel to Camp where Humphrey, Satan, Sherry, Pallas, Harmony, and Beethoven […]
- [Figan Follow Day 12](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-12/): Figan Follow — Day 12 Chimps Visit Jane’s House Previous Next Date: July 11, 1974 Start: 06:39 (nest) Finish: 18:10 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 31 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Esilom Mpongo Curt’s Report. Gigi (B=1) was first out of the nest at 0639 and Figan followed with a branching display directed at Gigi. Goblin, Faben, and Patti joined them and the group traveled to the Lower Kasakela mnazi trees near the beach. Figan and Faben did arrival displays. Sherry pant-bobbed and waah’ed. Fifi and Freud arrived during msongati feeding. Freud went ventral on Figan and touched Figan’s balls. Atlas and […]
- [Figan Follow Day 11](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-11/): Figan Follow — Day 11 All Day with Faben, Gigi, Goblin, and Patti Previous Next Date: July 10, 1974 Start: 07:00 (nest) Finish: 19:30 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 30 min. Observers: David Riss and Juma Mkukwe David’s Report. Faben, Figan, Goblin, Patti, and Gigi spent the day together. After some early morning msongati feeding on the AK7 ridge, there were a few displays by the brothers with few responses. They returned to Linda Peak to eat kifumbe for an hour and then traveled down into Linda for budyankende. They left Gigi (or vice versa) here. They then traveled up the stream […]
- [Figan Follow Day 10](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-10/): Figan Follow — Day 10 Figan Arrival Displays Previous Next Date: July 9, 1974 Start: 06:50 (nest) Finish: 19:50 (nest) Duration: 13 hr. 0 min. Observers: David Riss and Juma Mkukwe David’s Report. Figan awoke and started feeding with Patti and Jomeo on mnazi leaves. Sherry and Melissa were nearby, but never did interact at all with Figan, and were at least 100 m away. Jomeo, Figan, and Patti split off and started eating msongati, and then at 0825 Patti followed Figan to Jane’s house to eat the fig-like mumanda. Figan then traveled to the beach for vines as Patti remained […]
- [Figan Follow Day 9](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-9/): Figan Follow — Day 9 More Feeding in the Upper Valleys Previous Next Date: July 8, 1974 Start: 06:50 (nest) Finish: 18:15 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 25 min. Observers: David Riss and Erin Moore David’s Report. Figan rose early and traveled to the ngazi tree in which he fed on the fifth twice. He then entered Camp and spent two hours with Mike, Humphrey, Goblin, Passion, Patti, and Gigi. He groomed mainly with Mike and Humphrey. Gigi (1/2 and coming up) was inspected by Patti, Passion, Humphrey, Mike, and Figan all at the same time. They left together and the group […]
- [Figan Follow Day 8](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-8/): Figan Follow — Day 8 Figan and Faben Alone All Day Previous Next Date: July 7, 1974 Start: 07:10 Finish: 19:25 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 15 min. Observers: David Riss and Ann Pierce David’s Report. Figan was located on the Linda trail southeast of Linda Peak eating kifumbe. A fresh nest was within 30 m and Faben was still in his nest. He had pant- hooted twice within 10 minutes. Figan and Faben spent most of the day feeding together, traveling to southern Linda slopes to feed on msongati and mkuyu together, and then salt-searched in an empty Linda fishing village. […]
- [Figan Follow Day 7](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-7/): Figan Follow — Day 7 Slow Day, Rained Out Previous Next Date: July 6, 1974 Start: 07:30 Finish: 13:30 (rained out) Duration: 6 hr. 0 min. Observers: David Riss and Juma Mkukwe David’s Report. Figan was found early feeding on msongati with Jomeo and Gilka after he had left his nest. There were a series of pant-hoot exchanges between Figan and Jomeo and chimps near The Peak. Figan and Jomeo then headed up there, with a couple of displays on the way. He arrived to find Humphrey, Satan, Evered, and Faben, who he had not seen since Day 4. He displayed […]
- [Figan Follow Day 6](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-6/): Figan Follow — Day 6 Streambed Display and Hunting Previous Next Date: July 5, 1974 Start: 07:02 (nest) Finish: 19:10 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 8 min. Observers: Curt Busse, David Riss, and Cretus Chiwaga Curt’s Report. The chimps were up at 0702 and they traveled back to Kasakela. Figan did a silent display at the Kasakela stream and he continued towards Kakombe. Jomeo and Goblin were feeding in the mnazi patch and Figan did a long silent display under these trees. His display included the destruction of a fresh nest which presumably had been Jomeo’s from the night before. Surprisingly, Sherry […]
- [Figan Follow Day 5](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-5/): Figan Follow — Day 5 Buffalo Scare Previous Next Date: July 4, 1974 Start: 07:06 (nest) Finish: 18:24 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 18 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Rugema Bambanganya Curt’s Report. Figan left his nest at 0706 and traveled to the kilikia tree east of Camp. Patti and Fifi arrived and there was a big fight (contact II) between them. Fifi seemed to be the initiator and the aggressor however Patti fought back and held her own. Patti waah’ed several times and screamed continuously. A few minutes later Figan displayed at them; they both screamed and avoided. Figan went to […]
- [Figan Follow Day 4](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-4/): Figan Follow — Day 4 “Stranger” Scare in Upper Linda Valley Previous Next Date: July 3, 1974 Start: 07:27 (nest) Finish: 18:30 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 3 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Rugema Bambanganya Curt’s Report. Rugema and I took 1 ½ hr to reach the nests as a heavy early morning rain dampened our efforts to crawl through Upper Linda to the middle of nowhere. A siafu nest was also quite troubling, but fortunately the chimps remained nested until 0730. The group fed on budyankende in Upper Linda for 45 minutes before hitting a muguiza tree on the Linda stream. […]
- [Figan Follow Day 3](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-3/): Figan Follow — Day 3 Evered Submissive to Figan in Camp Previous Next Date: July 2, 1974 Start: 06:58 (nest) Finish: 19:00 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 2 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Petro Leo Curt’s Report. Figan was up at 0658 and he displayed three times during travel towards Camp. Fifi and Humphrey joined Figan. Figan displayed at Humphrey upon arrival. Figan passed right through Camp and went to the kilukia tree east of Camp. Winkle and Hugo were already there. Humphrey, Fifi, Patti, and Sherry arrived separately later. Humphrey copulated with Patti. Sherry was submissive to Figan as Figan traveled […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 7](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-7/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 7 Territorial Patrols Previous Next A major goal of the Figan Follow was to track the alpha male’s travel to territorial boundaries where he might encounter chimps from neighboring communities — Kahama to the south and Mitumba to the north. Figan’s core area spanned three valleys: Kakombe, Kasakela, and occasionally Linda (see map, below). Small groups of Kasakela chimps including Figan made three incursions to the north (Days 1, 32, and 49), and even crossed the Rutanga stream on Day 32. They also made three incursions to the south (Days 38, 42, and 45) including one […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 9](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-9/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 9 Foods and Feeding Previous Next 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 […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 13](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-13/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 13 Habitat and Wildlife Previous Next Here are a few random photos of Gombe habitat and wildlife. Buttressed tree in Mkenke valley. Random thorns. The chimps sometimes drummed against these buttresses along the trail near the top of KK1. More random thorns. Bolivar the Bushpig was a quiet old individual. It passed away near Chimp Camp around Day 30. David and Curt were delighted one day to discover that Saidi had hacked this new path (albeit slanted) in lower Kasakela valley, parts of which were almost impenetrable. The chimps also used this new trail. Figan was […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 10](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-10/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 10 Chimp Camp Previous Next The banana feeding station was set up in 1962 on a sloping hillside in Kakombe Valley, about a 15 minute hike from Lake Tanganyika. Various contraptions were used to control when individual chimps received bananas. In the era of the Figan Follow, chimps received bananas via a “banana trench” that was attached to the main research building (Pan Palace). A door led from inside Pan Palace into the walkable trench, where bananas could be loaded into six small compartments with trap doors that could be released from inside the trench. By […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 14](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-14/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 14 Baboons Previous Baboons (Papio anubis) easily outnumbered chimps at Gombe. Even though the chimpanzees enjoyed celebrity status, the baboons commanded equal scientific scrutiny. Curt would later get his doctorate degree studying baboons in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, where he would quickly realize that baboons are every bit as intriguing behaviorally as the more celebrated chimpanzees. Whereas baboons in much of Africa are targeted as prey by leopards and lions, the baboons at Gombe live in a relatively predator-free environment. Leopards were last seen at Gombe in 1975; lions, not since before Jane Goodall first arrived. […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 6](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-6/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 6 Chimps on the Beach Previous Next Occasionally, the chimps would traverse the beach to reach fruit-bearing trees or forage for other foods, sometimes venturing into empty fishing huts where they’d lick the mineral-rich soot from cooking pits. These huts belonged to fishermen from villages beyond the Park’s boundaries, who would work here during the moonless nights each month harvesting the small “dagaa” sardines from the lake. The fishermen paddled out at night in their dugouts, lanterns hanging from the bow to lure the tiny silver “dagaa” toward the light. The “dagaa” were caught in nets […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 5](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-5/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 5 Waterfalls Previous Next Kakombe Waterfall “This enchanting waterfall holds a special place in Dr. Jane Goodall’s heart: Over the last 60 years, every time she returns to Gombe, she visits this beloved spot for renewal and connection with nature.” (The Jane Goodall Institute, Facebook, May 5, 2024) Early in her studies, Jane observed chimpanzees performing rain displays or “dances” during heavy downpours. An agitated chimp — typically an adult male — would charge, sway, shake branches, drag branches, and stamp the ground as if entranced or enraged by the power of the storm. These same […]
- [Gombe Photo Gallery Page 1](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-photo-gallery-page-1/): Gombe Photo Gallery — Page 1 Kasakela Males Next Hugo Hugo (age 38, formerly Rodolf) was a quiet old guy who spent a lot of time grooming and feeding. He was the fourth adult male to visit Dr. Jane’s camp in the early 1960s. In their first encounter, the startled Hugo threatened Jane and hurled a stone at her. Hugo eats “chimp spinach” (local name:kitota). Hugo sits alone in camp. Evered grooms Faben who grooms Figan who grooms Hugo. Mike Mike (age 36) was famous for incorporating empty kerosene cans into his aggressive displays. He bluffed his way to alpha status […]
- [Gombe Chimpanzee Photo Galleries](https://figanfollow.com/gombe-chimpanzee-photo-galleries/): Gombe Chimpanzee Photo Galleries Photos can be freely downloaded according to the license agreement at the bottom of this page. Kasakela Males Kasakela Females (incomplete) Kahama Males Kahama Females (pending) Waterfalls Beach and fishing huts Territorial patrolling Hunting and meat-eating (pending) Foods and feeding Chimp Camp Random photos of Figan Miscellaneous chimp photos (pending) Gombe habitat and wildlife Olive Baboons These galleries showcase photographs that are primarily of historical interest. The collection documents the Figan Follow (June 30 – August 18, 1974), with all images captured by Curt Busse. These photographs can be freely downloaded and used in accordance with the license terms […]
- [Figan Follow Publication](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-publication/): The Figan Follow Publication in Folia Primatologica (1977) After returning to Stanford in 1974, David and Curt completed an exhaustive analysis of the data collected during the fifty days and prepared a manuscript, which they submitted to the leading scientific journal in the field of primatology, Folia Primatologica. The article was accepted and published in January, 1977 (volume 28, pages 283- 297), and appeared alongside an important article by Jane Goodall. As of October, 2025, the Figan Follow publication is Open Access (!) courtesy of De Gruyter Brill publishers, as per a Creative Commons license. An official PDF of the entire […]
- [Figan Follow Day 2](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-2/): Figan Follow — Day 2 Feeding in the Upper Valleys Previous Next Date: July 1, 1974 Start: 07:06 (nest) Finish: 19:30 (nest) Duration: 12 hr. 24 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Petro Leo “During the second year of Figan’s reign two of the students — David Riss and Curt Busse — asked me if they could follow Figan, monitor his movements, behaviour, and relationships with other chimpanzees, for fifty consecutive days. I was not sure … but there was a precedent — six years earlier Flo had been followed for sixteen days in an attempt to witness the birth of her last infant. Flo […]
- [Figan Follow Day 1](https://figanfollow.com/figan-follow-day-1/): Figan Follow — Day 1 Figan Catches a Colobus Monkey Next Date: June 30, 1974 Start: 07:53 Finish: 19:17 (nest) Duration: 11 hr. 24 min. Observers: Curt Busse and Kassim Selemani “The marathon began on 30 June 1974 and continued until 18 August . David and Curt, each accompanied by one of the field staff, spelled one another every four days, so while one of them was clambering around the mountains after Figan the other was writing up the information he had collected — and resting after the arduous four days of following.” — Jane Goodall Goodall, J. (1990). Through a window: […]
- [The Figan Follow](https://figanfollow.com/): Curt Busse, Figan, and David Riss (photo by Jane Goodall, August, 1974) “The fifty days with Figan gave us invaluable data about the social behaviour and social life of one of the most powerful top-ranking males Gombe has known, at a time when he was at the zenith of his career.” — Jane Goodall Goodall, J. (1990). Through a window: My thirty years with the chimpanzees of Gombe. Houghton Mifflin. Page 58. “The record must go to Riss & Busse (1977) who followed an adult male (Figan) at Gombe for 50 days in a row, clocking up 563 hours of observation.” — William C. […]

## Optional

- [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/figanfollow.com/mcp)

[comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)