New faces, new names...lots of hunting!

An update on some of the happenings around Fongoli includes a little bit about some of the new faces, along with their new names (that we use anyway!) and, finally, an update on galago hunting!

Natasha's infant son is now about 3 months old, and he is quite active. He has been given a name courtesy of a generous donor, Carolyn Farris, to the Leakey Foundation, which auctioned off the name of Natasha's infant to raise funds for that organization (they have also kindly funded the research at Fongoli!). They also recently posted a blog entry that I wrote about an exciting day at Fongoli.

Ms. Farris noted, "I would like to name Natasha’s baby “Pistache” (French for pistachio nut), after my long hair Chihuahua. I adopted her from the Helen Woodward Animal Center and she was named after a character in a book. The chain of events that led to her adoption started on Bastille Day, so I thought a French name would be appropriate for her. The name is pronounced Pee-stash. My little dog is popular with everyone she meets, as she is loving, cuddly and playful. She is also tall for a Chihuahua, just as Natasha and her son are tall."

Pistache the Fongoli chimp is indeed tall for his age - and quite precocious! Natasha is careful to keep others away from him at his young age, but infant Aimee sometimes can sneak in and touch him. The other new group member, adolescent female immigrant Lily is often close by as well and sometimes seems to "accidentally" groom Pistache for a second before resuming to groom Natasha. Lily has been a member of the Fongoli community for several months now and has integrated well. She is quite outgoing, tends to challenge the resident females, likes to spend time with the alpha male (who doesn't?!), and still plays extensively with the youngsters. Hopefully, pictures of Pistache and Lily will be posted here soon (I've had technical difficulties this summer!).

Finally, we have already racked up 45 tool-assisted "spearing" hunting bouts this year! This ties our record, which was set last year. Although hunting peaks in the early rainy season, chances are a few more observations will trickle in, and we'll set a new record this year! Young female Fanta is currently the most prolific hunter, although adult female Tumbo (seen above in photo with infant Cy, courtesy National Geographic Society) still holds the record for the highest success rate. Well done Fongoli chimps!

10 years of the Fongoli Savanna Chimpanzee Project

This past week we had a party to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the Fongoli Savanna Chimpanzee Project. Thanks to everyone (and there are many!) who helped along the way!

People from the villages of Fongoli, Djendji, Petit Oubadji, Tenkoto, Seekoto, Ngari, Bantako and probably a few others came, as well as some folks from Kedougou and beyond! There was much dancing (traditional, as in the video I've posted a link to here, as well as more of the modern style once the DJ got started!) and feasting!

Chimps were given a day to party on their own too - without ANY observers! They were nice enough to let me find them quickly the next day and, to my surprise, Bo was back after being gone for about two and a half weeks. That made the community complete - 31 together - except for a couple of peripheral males we see once or twice a year...

Also, the day before our 10th anniversary fete, I saw, heard or found evidence for TEN different hunts. I saw 7 cases of tool-assisted galago hunting, another case where I heard the hunt and saw the adolescent female leaving and found the tool, a case where an adult female examined a hunting tool that had recently been made and, finally, I witnessed a vervet monkey hunt (with Lily, the newly transferred subadult female in the lead)! I'm sad to say no one I observed got lucky (except for the prey!).

Here is a link to the fantastic Bassari dancers from the village of Petit Oubadji who danced most of the day for us at the anniversary party:

http://youtu.be/gSLCVx2PRhU

Fongoli update!

The first rains at Fongoli brought out a couple of tool-assisted "spearing" hunting bouts! The first of the season - by adult female Tumbo and juvenile female Fanta (although the latter was only seen making a tool, which was then retrieved, so we can't add a score to Fanta's tally!). No success but exciting nonetheless!

Fongoli chimps seem to be doing well. Natasha had an infant last month - probably a male although we still need to double check on that when we can get a good look. She is quite protective still and holds the baby very close. Farafa's female infant, Vivienne, who was born in October of 2010, is spending time away from Mom - not too far yet, though. The chimps were in a group of 28 yesterday, which includes everyone except Nickel, Teva and Dawson, who have been seen fairly recently though.

A small gold mine has erupted within the Fongoli chimps' home range, but it may subside as did one that appeared several years ago. These are mines dug by local people, which consist of a series of small but deep holes. They are much less problematic for chimps compared to the large-scale, corporate mines that will be increasing in southeastern Senegal...

Still hot here - usually over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Both humans and chimps looking forward to the rains really starting!

Photo of Tumbo and her infant Cy, who apparently loves to ride "jockey style" by Dr. Maja Gaspersic, May 2011.

Neighbor Ape officially 501(c)3 Non-Profit

Great news that Neighbor Ape has been given official non-profit [501(c)3] status by the IRS! Although we've been incorporated since 2008, I just received the good news on the non-profit status yesterday! This means that anyone who donates to Neighbor Ape is making a TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution, and this status is retroactive to the date on which we were incorporated in 2008. Soon, I'll provide more information on how you can easily donate to our organization. For now, I'll probably arrange something via the National Geographic Action Atlas website:

http://www.actionatlas.org/conservation/animals-plants/neighbor-ape/summary/paaB0E8E461B66A688C0

This year, we continue to focus on education but also hope to start our eco-ranger program.

Photo above of Tia and Aimee (who is doing very well more than two years after her "chimp-napping" from the Fongoli community but with successful return)courtesy of Kelly Boyer.

Termites, termites, termites!

Check out the article available online at the American Journal of Physical Anthropology on Dr. Stephanie Bogart's dissertation work at Fongoli. Male Fongoli chimps appear to spend more time termite-fishing than chimps at any other site (we don't yet have data on females' time spent fishing).

All termites, all of the time!
(Photo above of Frito termite-fishing at Fongoli, Senegal, courtesy of National Geographic Society).



http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.21452/abstract

Meet Vivienne!

It took only a couple of months, but Farafa was finally somewhat cooperative so that I was able to get a shot of her newest infant. Turns out it's a girl! She can be seen here bouncing around on her mother's belly as Farafa is preoccupied with grooming, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGGqWpm6shQ

Just published online - an article I wrote about Mike's (photo of Mike above courtesy of National Geographic Society) care of infant Aimee when we returned her to the Fongoli chimps after she was taken by poachers. This is a link to the Journal of Ethology

http://www.springerlink.com/content/423r8363412015p4/