From 1974 to 1978, renowned primatologist Jane Goodall documented a prolonged conflict among chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tanzania.
This conflict, known as the Gombe Chimpanzee War or the Four-Year War, has drawn various opinions from researchers regarding the use of the term “war.” For Goodall, however, this conflict stood apart from the typical violent behavior seen in chimpanzees. As IFL Science reported on November 21, the violence was structured and bore striking similarities to human warfare, characterized by struggles for power and competition for resources.
Although rare, conflicts among chimpanzees are highly violent. (Photo: Konrad Wothe/Minden Pictures)
Throughout the 1960s, the Kasakela chimpanzee population appeared to be relatively united, with few conflicts among the males. A rift began to form in 1971 when the population split into two groups: the Kasakela in the north and the Kahama in the south. Over time, these two groups interacted less and became increasingly distinct, ultimately separating into two distinct territories.
A critical turning point that worsened the situation was the death of a high-ranking male. A chimpanzee named Humphrey became the alpha male of the Kasakela group but faced competition from two brothers from the Kahama group, Hugh and Charlie. The other chimpanzees began to align themselves with either Humphrey or the two brothers, setting the stage for conflict.
The first skirmish erupted on January 7, 1974, when six males from the Kasakela group ambushed a lone male feeding in the Kahama territory. The following four years were marked by a series of coordinated attacks by the Kasakela group, resulting in the deaths of all male members and some females from the Kahama group. The Kahama group was effectively wiped out, allowing the Kasakela group to expand their territory and gain control over the remaining members.
The level of violence exhibited was particularly shocking, marking an unprecedented aggression among large primates. Research findings suggest that chimpanzees are innately aggressive and their lethal skills are a factor contributing to their evolutionary success. However, the conflict in Gombe elevated this to a new level. “It was truly like a civil war. They treated each other in ways we have never encountered,” Goodall shared. “The situation was dire. It resembled what happens in genocide.”
The nature of the conflict among the chimpanzees raises questions about whether war has deep evolutionary roots or if it is a byproduct of complex social structures. As we understand today, war emerged from settled civilizations and agriculture, which allowed for the establishment of stable territories, centralized power, and advanced material technology.
Since the Gombe Chimpanzee War in the 1970s, similar conflicts have been documented, including complex conflicts emerging in the Ngogo chimpanzee community in the Ugandan rainforest, the largest known chimpanzee group.
