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"The team observed a group of around 45 chimpanzees living at the Loango National Park, they witnessed the first recorded attack between the two ape species.
Lara M. Southern, the first author of the study, said that the attack happened back in 2019. She recalled first hearing the screams of chimpanzees. Initially, she and the rest of the team believed they were about to witness a "typical encounter" between chimpanzees of neighboring communities. But, another sound told them they were wrong."
"We heard chest beats, a display characteristic for gorillas, and realized that the chimpanzees had encountered a group of five gorillas," Southern said.
In both attacks — which lasted 52 minutes and 79 minutes, respectively — the chimpanzees reportedly "formed coalitions and attacked the gorillas." Sky News reports that the first attack resulted in one dead infant gorilla and three injured chimpanzees. The second attack resulted in the death of one infant gorilla.
The study reports that while the victims in both attacks were infant gorillas, the "consumption of one victim was observed in one event only."
Researchers Observe First Recorded Lethal Chimpanzee Attacks on Gorillas
Lara M. Southern, the first author of the study, said that the attack happened back in 2019. She recalled first hearing the screams of chimpanzees. Initially, she and the rest of the team believed they were about to witness a "typical encounter" between chimpanzees of neighboring communities. But, another sound told them they were wrong."
"We heard chest beats, a display characteristic for gorillas, and realized that the chimpanzees had encountered a group of five gorillas," Southern said.
In both attacks — which lasted 52 minutes and 79 minutes, respectively — the chimpanzees reportedly "formed coalitions and attacked the gorillas." Sky News reports that the first attack resulted in one dead infant gorilla and three injured chimpanzees. The second attack resulted in the death of one infant gorilla.
The study reports that while the victims in both attacks were infant gorillas, the "consumption of one victim was observed in one event only."
Researchers Observe First Recorded Lethal Chimpanzee Attacks on Gorillas
