The world's largest known group of wild chimpanzees has split and been locked in a vicious civil war for the last eight years, according to researchers.
It is not clear exactly why the once close-knit community of Ngogo chimpanzees at Uganda's Kibale National Park are at loggerheads, but since 2018 the scientists have recorded 24 killings, including 17 infants.
These were chimps that would hold hands, lead author Aaron Sandel said. Now they're trying to kill each other. The study, published in the journal Science, notes that the intensity and duration of the violence may inform how early human conflict developed.
Sandel, an anthropologist from the University of Texas and co-director of the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, states that chimpanzees are very territorial and have hostile interactions with those from other groups. He compared their aggression to a fear of strangers.
Despite nearly 200 Ngogo chimpanzees having lived in harmony for decades, a significant change occurred when the Western and Central groups began to polarize in 2015. This was characterized by increased hostility and avoidance behaviors.
Research indicated that since the division, members of the Western group have attacked those from the Central group, resulting in numerous fatalities. Factors contributing to this civil war include social disruptions caused by the deaths of prominent group members and changes in group leadership.
Ultimately, the researchers' findings prompt reflections on human conflict, suggesting that relational dynamics may play a more significant role than often recognized.
