Davinder Josephson Blog Post 3 - Corruption of Chimp Culture

Davinder Josephson

Dr. Feldblum

Primate Conservation

8 April 2025

Corruption of Chimp Culture

Image by Discover Magazine

A recent article published by Mongabay News revealed the loss of socially-learned behaviors among hunted, endangered chimpanzee populations in Côte d’Ivoire’s Taï National Park. Chimpanzee populations in the park have experienced increased hunting pressure for decades, and as of 2010, the population in Tai was estimated to be a mere 300 individuals. Many males in the population were hunted and killed for their meat due to their close proximity to local villages run by subsistence hunters. This loss had major implications for the populations’ make-up, behavior, and social structure. 

    Prior to the mass killing, male chimpanzees in Tai National Park were found to exhibit various auditory signs to attract females; males would tap their knuckles against fallen branches or noisily shake and tear apart these plants to gain the attention of nearby females. After the last adult male was killed, only juvenile males remained. Even when these individuals grew up, scientists never observed them perform the knuckle-knock; primatologist Mathieu Malherbe infers that this gesture is a completely learned behavior. This concept represents a large threat to chimpanzee populations if other crucial skills are not passed on to future generations (the ability to use sticks to reach insect mounds, etc.). 


Image by science photo library

This study reminds us that anthropogenic factors can not only harm current primate populations, but induce lasting negative effects for future generations. If we corrupt chimpanzee culture and behavior, we alter the species’ ability to survive for years to come. I believe it is important to highlight the effect that humans have on primate “culture” as a central conservation point; humans can easily relate to the idea of “culture,” and if we are able to convey the beauty of chimpanzee practice and tradition, we can hopefully improve their conservation status by altering human behavior and thought.  


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