Kasakela Chimpanzee Community
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.
Photo: Hugo eats “chimp spinach” (local name: kitota).
Mike
Mike (age 36) was famous for incorporating empty kerosene cans into his aggressive displays. He bluffed his way to alpha status in 1964 and maintained the top rank for seven years until Humphrey took over in 1971. Afterwards, Mike dropped quickly in rank but remained relentless at obtaining meat at kills.
Photo: Mike sits near the ledge of the (dry) Kasakela waterfall.
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 hair is puffed out, but he reasures Melissa and no aggression occurs. (National Geographic, May, 1979, p. 599. © National Geographic Society).1
Gremlin (left) and most likely Freud play in dense vegetation of lower Kasakela valley.
Most likely Freud and Gremlin in lower Kasakela.
Fifi
Attractive and mild-mannered, Fifi (age 16) was the high-ranking daughter in the powerful “Flo Family,” which included her brothers Faben and Figan. During the Figan Follow, Fifi was present 13% of the time, more than other females with young. She fought repeatedly with Patti, a young, sexually-receptive adult female who had recently immigrated to the Kasakela community.
Fifi travels along one of the upper ridges.
Fifi strolls along the Linda beach. Freud rides jockey style.
Fifi rests along the Linda-Rutanga ridge during group travel to the northernmost part of the Kasakela community’s territory.
Goblin
Melissa’s ten-year-old son Goblin appeared to idolize Figan and associated with him often. He was with Figan during 35% of the Figan Follow, more than anyone else except for Faben and Gigi. Years later he would take over the alpha rank from Figan.
Goblin rests on the forest floor.
Goblin rests along a ridge during a patrol with Figan and other Kasakela males to the northernmost part of their territory.
Goblin and Figan wait outside of a fishing hut while Gigi licks soot inside.
Goblin eats mshai berries in upper Linda valley.
Goblin eats lamb’s tail in an upper valley.
Goblin grimaces and puts his hand on Figan’s shoulder during travel along the beach.
- According to the National Geographic Support web site (Article Number: 000001234) as of at least January, 2024: “National Geographic is no longer licensing images, art, text or video to third parties. If you are interested in using content seen in a National Geographic product for your project, please contact the original content creator about possible usage permissions.” ↩︎