New research shows that chimpanzees who kill their neighbors gain significant reproductive advantages. The Ngogo chimpanzees in Uganda were observed expanding their territory by killing nearby groups. After this expansion, the female chimps had more offspring, and survival rates for the young increased sharply.
Before the territory growth, female chimps gave birth to 15 infants over three years. Afterward, they had 37. The increase happened because more land meant more food, allowing mothers to care for their babies better. Additionally, the threat of infanticide from neighboring groups decreased.
While the findings may tempt comparisons to humans, researchers stress the differences. Unlike chimpanzees, humans have developed a cooperative nature, allowing for peaceful coexistence.
Difficult words
- chimpanzee — A type of ape known for intelligence.chimpanzees
- reproductive — Related to producing young or offspring.
- territory — An area controlled by a group or species.territory growth
- infanticide — The act of killing an infant.
- coexistence — Living peacefully together in the same place.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you think territory affects animal behavior?
- What are the implications of studying chimp behavior for understanding humans?
- Why do you think researchers emphasize differences between humans and chimpanzees?
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