Fascinating Study Finds First Evidence of Lasting Social Relationships of Chimpanzees and Gorillas in Wild

Researchers discovered the first evidence of a social relationship between chimpanzees and gorillas after a long-term study.

The research noted and documented the lasting social relationship between chimpanzees and gorillas that was said to persist over the years and in different contexts.

Scientists from Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, and Washington University, the Wildlife Conservation Society, conducted the study, which was reported in the iScience journal. It is available to read on the ScienceDaily website.

Lasting social relationships

According to the researchers, they looked into the published reports and synthesis of unpublished data about chimpanzees and gorillas dated from years 1999 to 2020 in the Goualougo Triangle. With the data, the researchers managed to investigate the interspecies rendezvous benefits. Researchers investigated the 20 years of observations at Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo.

The study noted that gorillas and chimpanzees could form lasting social relationships with their species. However, extended studies about other species have not yet been considered.

Moreover, the study co-author David Morgan explained that the discovery showed that no ape is an island. He said that chimpanzees live in diverse and dynamic habitats. Morgan is also a research fellow at Lincoln Park Zoo.

According to the research, they discovered the following based on years of observations:

The study noted that enhanced foraging. Researchers discovered co-feeding on the same tree, with 34% interspecific documentation, and 18 % of observations showed apes shared different food in close spatial proximity.
In addition, 20 different plant species were recorded, with which the two said animals could gather to share.
They also observed that young gorillas and chimpanzees sought particular partners for short-period play.
Ultimately, the researchers emphasized that there is much to learn from the gorillas and chimpanzees, highlighting the importance of conserving and protecting the said endangered species.

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Furthermore, co-author Jake Funkhouser explained that the observation between apes shows a dept of social awareness critical for interspecies social relationships. Funkhouser is also a doctoral candidate in biological anthropology at Washington University.

Although the research considered that social relationships might have been to avoid predators, scientists noted that there was not enough evidence that the said species associated with one another to avoid predators.

However, the research raised concerns about potential disease transmission between the two apes.

Chimpanzee and Gorillas

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), chimpanzees are considered endangered animals. The illegal wildlife trade, selling, and diseases threaten the chimpanzee population.

The World Wildlife Fund said that chimpanzees are considered social animals and can live over 50.

How they walk or travel can be with their two to four legs, and they like to stay on treetops, with habitats in most dry forests.

On the other hand, WWF added that gorillas are called gentle giants and show behaviors comparable to humans.

Gorillas stay in family groups from five to 10, which the dominant male leads. WWF noted that female gorillas would likely breed with one baby in four to six years.

With a low birthrate, gorillas are vulnerable to a potential population decline. Additionally, their species suffer from the threat of illegal trades and diseases.

Ultimately, the research encouraged more longitudinal studies further to understand the behavior and ecology of chimpanzees and gorillas.