Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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A Chimp Community Splitting into Two Factions. During the mid-1970's in Tanzania's Gombe National Park, Jane Goodall witnessed her study group of chimpanzees Splitting into two factions and then turning on each other. These chimps had grown up together and intermingled peacefully. Now they were systematically killing each other. What Goodall perceived as creatures 'nicer than humans,' Suddenly demonstrated a nasty, brutal side, like humans. No one seemed to understand what had caused this. In 2015, a new study spanning more than 30 years Of the Ngogo chimpanzee group in the western forests of Uganda, Observed 200 individuals living peacefully in smaller clusters. Males and females from different clusters mated and hunted together. One day in June a large number of chimps were in their territory And the observers heard other chimps nearby, Most likely from the larger Central cluster. The Western chimps quieted, seemed very nervous, And it appeared that they were hearing 'outsider' chimps. Suddenly the Western chimps fled and the Central group chased them. The two groups then avoided each other for six weeks. By 2018 the clusters were basically, completely separate groups. At that point, the killing began without explanation. Over the next seven years the Western group Killed 6 Central adults and 17 infants. Fighting continues to the present. Why this occurred is still unclear. Several factors may have contrbuted: The size of the group, Competition for food, and male-to-male competition. Another factor in 2014, before the divisions took place, Were the natural deaths of five adult males and one adult female. These natural deaths may have weakened the social networks. Chimpanzees do not have religion, political parties nor ideologies, Which are often the reasons for human divisions. To what extent are the interpersonal relationships and behaviors Really more important in chimpanzees than we realize in humans? This is a profound question needing more study For our greater understanding. Frank Maurer 21 April 2026 1920 Hours.