People have a chimpanzee as their closest relatives romanticized notion that chimpanzees live a life free from war and bloodshed. In fact, it's a far cry from the truth. Zoologists, including world-renowned primatologist Jane Godallové, extensive studies have confirmed that the Common Chimpanzee has vnitrodruhovému violence very close. A definitely on its aggressive gradients not participate anthropogenic influences.
Small chimpanzee wars, peer bloody dispute resolution incursions into neighboring territories, including the murder of members of the foreign bands, these are images which are usually scientific papers on učenlivých primates can not. And yet the reality of chimpanzees are inseparable. A study published in the prestigious journal Nature provides the answer to the long unanswered question that could be summarized by saying, "They are reflected somehow anthropogenic influences changes in the social life of chimpanzees in terms of increased intraspecific aggression?"
So far, because it was considered that the observed aggression is more intense in populations, or rather the various bands of which are adversely affected by human activities. It should not matter if it was a road or fragmentation of habitat vykáceným forest or the presence of poachers. Everything fell into place: the resulting loss of food sources or triggers intense interspecific competition, and especially the male members of the gang are therefore becoming more violent. But three dozen research zoologists, ethologists and primatologists presented in Nature but with this hypothesis shake.
According to them, coordinated violence is not the result of some external "disturbance", but normal evolutionary strategy. Chimpanzees are said to naturally resort to violence against their rivals, with whom compete for exclusive access to females, fighting each other for territory, water, food. From a purely Darwinian point of view, then the temporary organization - with its anti-foreign, anti příbuznějšími s cousin - seeking advantage, enabling them to survive and successfully pass on their genes to the next generation. This alliance consolidates the addition of the social ties.
Scientists put under their findings fifty years ago (in the sum is napozorováno together 462 years) direct observation of eighteen chimpanzees gang of African forests, in which the recorded 152 deaths. Individual observations in principle not protrude from the normal chimpanzee stereotype. Rapists were recruited mainly among males. They often despite their own rivalry, did not hesitate to join in a raid on a neighboring gang, where they killed a young male, and taking over new territory with females under their control. The study thus refutes the hypothesis of "anthropogenic influences triggered violence"?
Zoologist David Morgan, who is observing chimpanzees in Africa devoted fourteen years, summarizes the statistical analysis in simple sentences: "The individual chimpanzee communities can be divided into two rather broad categories. It's either a gang who live in an environment undisturbed by man, and the troop of the people affected. Eighteen us long observed bands of fully encompass it wide spectrum divided by the level of influence. Most of the observed attacks only covered the East African tribes, who were among those least affected. Human activities in the region are therefore very likely predictor of violence among chimpanzees. "
Author: Radomir Dohnal
Source: Ekolist.cz