Group Response to the Accidental Death of a Chimpanzee in Gombe National Park, Tanzania

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Abstract
One complete episode, starting with the death of an adult male chimpanzee who breaks his neck in a fall from a tree and including the subsequent responses of 16 other chimpanzees to this accident, is described in detail. Behavior of age classes, social relationships, special vocalizations and group activity patterns are discussed within the context of death. The various activities performed by the members of this mixed group -vocalizing, displaying, grooming, mating, feeding, resting and investigating – are schematically depicted to show levels of arousal and behavioral trends and fluctuations during the 4-hour episode. This unique case history provides new bases for speculating about the quality and nature of group reponses to the death of a familiar chimpanzee.

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