The chimps had a big fight on Tuesday night during dinner. I haven’t witnessed a fight of that intensity that lasted that long in years. The Cle Elum Seven do have minor conflicts all of the time. If you’re not familiar with chimps, you might think these squabbles are all-out brawls, but after you’ve seen a few, you get accustomed to how chimps fight. Once a quarrel breaks out, generally everyone joins in, so at CSNW, there are seven chimpanzees screaming and running around. Usually it is just a lot of posturing and often very little physical contact (as I mentioned in this blog post). Tuesday was a bit different.
The fight seemed to start between Missy and Annie. Though they really are best friends, Missy is dominant to Annie. Dominance is often asserted around access to food, so sometimes Missy reminds Annie of her lower rank by getting upset if Annie tries to take food. Because of these occasional reminders, Annie can be a little nervous. Annie used to be quite on edge a lot of the time, and if she thought someone was going to become upset by something she was doing, she would have overly exaggerated submissive behaviors, which often included screaming (I found a good description of submissive behaviors on Jane Goodall’s Lessons of Hope website). These days, Annie is much more confident and much less anxious, but a hierarchy among the chimps remains and is frequently reinforced in obvious and subtle ways. So, I can’t say exactly what started the fight, but it was something between Annie and Missy involving food. The start of the fight, however, often doesn’t matter. Once a fight gets going, it’s an opportunity to reinforce rank as well as get out any pent-up anger, so the “target” changes throughout the duration of the conflict. Maybe this sounds familiar? If you’re in a fight with a loved one (or not-so-loved one), I bet you’ve noticed the subject of the fight drifts from the initial topic to anything that been bugging you lately. And if it’s a fight within a group of several people, the person that everyone is focused on can change throughout the quarrel. Chimps aren’t so different.
The fight on Tuesday moved from the greenhouse, to the front rooms, and then into the playroom. There’s really nothing we as caregivers can do to end a conflict among the chimps. Once they’re going, there’s nothing that will take their focus off of the fight. Watching a fight does reinforce why we have such strict safety protocols and why we never share the same space as the chimps without a secure barrier (steel fencing, electric wire or chimp-proof glass) between human and chimpanzee. Chimps can go from peacefully eating dinner to a giant conflict in a matter of seconds.
One thing that we do is make sure there are no areas that would create a “trap” that a chimp could get stuck in without an avenue of escape. So, with that in mind, Elizabeth opened up the doors between each of the front rooms to the playroom even though we had not completed the spot cleaning for the evening. We do not attempt to isolate chimps during or after a conflict – we just give them room and allow them to work things out. Fighting and making up is an important part of living cohesively in a group of chimpanzees.
So, all we could do was watch and wait for the fight to end. Most squabbles last just a minute or two, but this fight went on for at least 15 minutes. One of Negra’s seemingly self-appointed jobs is to let out a loud pant hoot towards the end of the fight. We’ve come to describe this as Negra attempting to end the conflict. With this conflict, Negra let out her “ending pant hoot” at least four times. She seemed ready for the fight to be over and to get on with the rest of dinner; but this fight was intense, and the other chimps just kept going. During the fight, I remarked to Elizabeth how much smarter Burrito has become about conflicts. He used to throw himself in the middle, get all of the girls mad at him, and end up getting beat up. He’s still involved in conflicts, but stays more on the periphery and concentrates on getting reassurance from Foxie, who seems to give reassurance to anyone and everyone who wants it – that’s why we think of her as the mediator of the group. Even though we’re accustomed to the chimps fighting, it’s not a time that we think to break out the cameras, so we don’t have many photos or videos of fights, except for these photos of the end of a squabble that I took a few years ago.
Once the fight finally ended, we looked everyone over for injuries. Jamie’s behind was bleeding, but it didn’t look too worrisome. Jody was the worst off – she had a cut above one of her eyes, a few cuts on her arms, and a very bloody toe. We realized a little while later that one of her toes was severed completely. This probably sounds horrific, but it’s all part of what happens when chimps fight. We’re actually lucky that we don’t see more injuries. During conflicts like this, chimps go for ears, toes, fingers, scrotum – basically parts that stick out that can be bitten.
Jody was taking some time to rest while the other chimps were inspecting their own and each others’ wounds. You might imagine that having a toe bitten off would cause excruciating pain, but chimpanzees’ experience of pain seems to be quite different than that of most modern-day humans. The best example of this among the Cle Elum Seven was a fight pretty early on when Missy’s top lip was split open to the degree that you could see her teeth in between the new two halves of her top lip. Within minutes after the injury, she was pulling on it and biting the rough edges off, and not long afterwards, she eagerly ate several pieces of grapefruit with no signs of pain whatsoever. With no intervention from us, aside from medication (luckily we had seen this type of injury before and knew it could heal on its own), her lip “zipped” back up in a matter of a week or two, and within a month there was barely a trace of the injury.
We have Jody on pain reliever, just in case, as well as antibiotics, and we’re monitoring her toe very closely. We’re sending photos to our veterinarians and keeping them updated several times a day. We’re hoping that Jody’s foot will be able to heal on it’s own. If there are signs of an infection despite the antibiotics, it could be due to bone fragments left in the toe, and we’d most likely have to perform surgery to amputate the rest of the toe – a fairly minor procedure, but it would be the first surgery in CSNW’s history. Let’s hope we won’t have to go that route!
Here’s a photo of Jody from yesterday, the morning after the fight. She wasn’t even favoring her injured foot as she walked all over Young’s Hill:
Thank you so much Diana for the information about this conflict. I am sorry to hear that there were injuries, but certainly more educated now about how/why conflicts arise and what typical outcomes (injuries for one) may occur. I am also glad to learn that Mr. B is getting wiser to how to keep himself out of trouble during events like this. I hate to think of him getting ganged up on, from his doing, or not.
Also, I am so appreciative of all the work all of you at CSNW do. You work so tirelessly for the seven, as well as to keep your friends and supporters ‘in the loop’ about the day-to-day goings on at the sanctuary. I learn something every single time I log onto the blog. Your knowledge, expertise and love for the chimps at the sanctuary is always evident in everything you do and write.
Thank You.
Thank you, Jordan! It’s incredibly meaningful to be able to share the lives of the chimps with people like you who are so interested.
I saw a chimp fight when I was a docent at Gulf Breeze Zoo here in Florida and it was loud, and scary!! There were only 4 chimps fighting…….I can’t imagine 7 of them. It did seem like maybe jealousy, food, toys and/or attention was the cause of the squabble that I saw. It was a horrible feeling knowing there was nothing you could do to stop the fight. Thankfully it only lasted about 5 minutes or so. I can’t imagine 15 minutes of it as was in ya’lls case. I still love chimps but they definately command respect!!
I am sorry that a conflict of this nature has happened and I’m thankful they are few and far between. I am not worried about Jody as I know the staff and caregivers are taking appropriate measures to ensure her a speedy recovery. Healing thoughts to Jody and those who witnesses this conflict which I know can be very upsetting to watch.
I was priviliged to be there when it all went down and was amazed by the speed with which it took off, from patiently waiting to be served to intense rage and ferocity in seconds. The noise of the screaming was deafening and to me it seemed like a lot longer than 15 minutes until it was over. I too am so glad that Burrito has learned to keep out of the way. At one point Negra seemed to think it was over and came and plonked herself down for the resumption of dinner and then when she realised it was still going on went back to see what was happening. Thank you for the detailed explanation. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be educated. I learn so much both from the blog and every single time I volunteer, this time especially so.
I’m glad you were there, Jennifer! It’s all part of learning about the chimps to see them when they’re aggressive too. I think Negra was just thinking about getting her night bag 🙂
Diana, you did a great job of explaining the behaviors that make up the dynamics of this kind of conflict. I remember the first time a saw “screaming submission” it was with a young female, of course at feeding time, screaming at the top of her lungs at the alpha male who had food. I was so confused wondering “what the heck is she thinking screaming at that big guy at a time like this!” It is one behavior that does not seem to parallel a human behavior at all.
Have you tried a hose? We used water at the sanctuary as a last resort if it seemed to be getting completely out of control. It didn’t always work, but sometimes it did.
I am curious was there any change in order of who got fed that could have triggered this?
Thanks so much for making us feel like we were there! Hope everyone heals up, hugs and makes nice.
Wow.. of all chimps, I never would of thought,, the two best BFF ‘s quarreled to this degree..
so glad, Burrito knows better now ,, to remain out of the way… in order to remain safe,,
Poor Negra,,all she wants to do is EAT in PEACE.. meanwhile, the youngen,,will be youngen
so sorry Jody got hurt,, I fully trust Jody,,is receiving the best care and
monitoring to assure her toe will heal .
Thank you for keeping us in the loop,,
A much speedy recovery to Jody..
Did everyone make up afterward?
I’m copying this reply from one I left on Facebook asking the same question – Yes! Reconciliation is a whole topic in itself. Studies looking at chimpanzees have shown that fighting parties generally reconcile within minutes after a fight ends, and we’ve found that to be true of the Cle Elum Seven. It’s possible that they still hold grudges until the next fight, but they come together and groom each other almost immediately, and, for stable groups, life generally goes on as though nothing had happened.
Diana, thank you for sharing the events during this fight, and the behavioral characteristics of each chimp. we appreciate the transparency of the sanctuary’s operations and learn so much by reading your website!
Get well, Jody!
Fascinating insight. Thanks so much for sharing and hugs to everyone involved – both chimps and humans.
Thanks for sharing this. The similarities between chimps and humans are always amazing to me. I felt a twinge of empathy with Burrito, as far as getting in the middle of a group of females and getting beaten up goes. Except that he’s learned how to get out of the way!
Norm – maybe you’ll learn some day 🙂
I’ve often wondered about what their quarrels are about. Glad everyone is on the mend and hopefully this has taken care of their differences for a while.
When we visited we saw a small disagreement – I believe it was Missy who tried to take a piece of food from Jamie. One minute it was quiet and the next everyone was running around after each other hooting, hollering and yelling. When not expecting this it certainly can make one jump! It was all over after the 7 ran outside and then back in. The reality of what the Chimips can do to each other when angry certainly emphasizes what they could do to a human since we are so much more fragile than they are physically. I guess it’s a good thing for you all to see this once in awhile so that you don’t become careless about your own well being. But, they also are so similar to humans – the only mannerism that is so much better with the Chimps is that they forgive and forget very quickly. Oh that we could “make up” that rapidly!! No grudges.
Thanks for sharing all that goes on at the sanctuary, not just the warm, fuzzy “stuff”. Here’s to the way in which the 7 settle things among themselves and their forgiving, resilient natures and of course their physical resilience. Without that they wouldn’t have survived the horrors visited upon them before they arrived at their sanctuary! They are truly wonderful – all sides of them!
Diana, when fights like this erupt do the groupings stay together in the wild or do they ever seperate? I wonder to what degree familial or bonded groups fight vs fights chimps have w/other bands or groups & if the environment they are in effects the type of fighting. Does an escalation of fights either in frequency or intensity say anything about how they are doing socially/emotionally, etc?
Michelle, I can’t claim any expertise about chimps in the wild, but I did do a little research. Most of the post-conflict studies have been conducted with chimps in captivity, but I found this one which is interesting: http://www.academia.edu/1843702/Post-conflict_behaviour_of_wild_chimpanzees_Pan_troglodytes_schweinfurthii_in_the_Budongo_Forest_Uganda
I don’t really have an answer to a comparison of frequency of fighting between and within groups, though I suspect it’s much more frequent within groups because members of the same group are with each other all the time, and much more violent between groups because the fights are about resources, rather than social slights or just someone who’s in a bad mood. I’d also suspect that chimps in the wild who have frequently overlapping territories / competition for the same food source with other groups fight more often.
It’s a good question about whether the escalation of fights reflects how they are doing socially and emotionally. I would say that if there is an upset in the social order, fights occur more frequently. I would expect to see fewer and less intense fights in groups with established and accepted hierarchies.
You might want to find a copy of Chimpanzee Politics by Frans de Wall – it’s basically a story of a group of captive chimpanzees and the overthrow of the established leader of the group.
Thanks to everyone for your good questions and nice comments!
Wow! Sounds intense…. I hope that BFF’s Missy and Annie have kissed and made up and that Jody’s toe heals up on its own. And sure glad that chimps get over quarrels faster than we humans.