Chimps in "Civil War": First Observed In-Group Conflict

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Science details what appears to be the first observed "civil war" among a community of wild chimpanzees. The Ngogo chimpanzee group in Uganda's Kibale National Park, which had been socially cohesive for years, experienced a permanent split. Between 2015 and 2018, the group divided into western and central factions.

Following this division, members of the western group launched at least 24 coordinated attacks on the central group, resulting in the deaths of at least seven adult males and 17 infants. Researchers suggest that shifts in social hierarchies, potentially influenced by the death of older, key individuals and an alpha male change, contributed to this internal conflict. A disease outbreak in 2017 may have further solidified the split.

Scientists note that such in-group violence is rare in chimpanzees, with genetic evidence suggesting it occurs only every 500 years. However, human activities like deforestation and climate change could disrupt social cohesion, potentially increasing the frequency of these devastating conflicts. This phenomenon offers a troubling parallel to human civil wars, highlighting the complex nature of cooperation and conflict within social groups.