Chimps We Know

Flo (approx. 1929 - 1972)

Flo was one of the first females to follow David Greybeard to Jane's camp in 1961. Flo gave birth to at least five offspring: Faben, Figan, Fifi, Flint, and Flame. Flo's high rank and social assertiveness influenced her offspring as they developed.

Her son, Figan, with the support of his brother Faben, became top-ranking male for six years between1973 and 1979. Daughter Fifi went on to become top-ranking female herself. Flame passed away when he was 6 months old, and Flint who wasn’t completely weaned at that time became abnormally dependent on his old mother.

When Flo died in 1972, he was unable to cope without her. He died at the age of eight and a half, within one month of losing his mother.

Fifi (1958 - 2004)

Fifi, daughter of Flo, was the last surviving chimpanzee from Dr. Goodall's early days as a researcher. Jane watched her grow from a lively and curious 2-year-old to a high-ranking female and one of Gombe's most successful mothers.

Fifi gave birth to nine offspring–a Gombe record: Freud, Frodo, Fanni, Flossi, Faustino, Ferdinand, Freud, Flirt and Furaha. Fifi was also a grandmother. Fanni lost her her first son, Fax, but later gave birth to two sons, Fudge and then Fundi. Flossi, established in the Mitumba community in the north gave birth to Forest, in 1997 and to Fansi, in 2001. Sadly, Fifi disappeared in the fall of 2004 and is now presumed dead.

Freud (1971 - )

Fifi's oldest son, Freud, benefited from the strength and position of his powerful family. As he grew up he was supported not only by his mother, but also by her elder brother Figan, who was alpha male during Freud's impressionable juvenile years.

Freud became alpha male at the age of 22 in February 1993. He was a popular, laid-back alpha until the fall of 1997, when he became weakened by sarcoptic mange and his brother Frodo took over.

Frodo (1976 - )

Frodo beneficiated as alpha male, from Freud, an ever-present playmate, role model, baby-sitter and protector. He soon became something of a bully, and one of Gombe's few accurate stone-throwers! Frodo became notorious when he leapt at and pummeled Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson, when the artist visited Gombe.

For a long time, Freud and Frodo travelled together,  but their relationship gradually became tense. When Frodo was 20 years old, he weighed some 120 pounds–the heaviest chimp known at Gombe. In 1997, when Freud became sick with mange, Frodo was able to overthrow him as alpha male. Frodo ruled with brute force until December 2002, when he himself grew ill, became subject to attack and was forced to hide from the community.