158 Intra-community killing — the case of Zesta
prime adult male (gamma rank, Newton-Fisher 1997). Black, while displaying, ran at Zesta, leapt
on his body, then violently and repeatedly shook Zesta. We retreated to the edge of the group of
chimpanzees, approximately 10 m from Zesta. At 0840 the chimpanzees were quiet and beginning
to disperse; we were able to approach Zesta and obtain a positive identification. His breathing was
laboured and shallow and he died shortly afterwards. Most of the other community members had
now left. Ruda, an adult female, with her infant and juvenile son, and Sara, a subadult female,
remained. They approached Zesta. Sara ‘whimpered’ (Goodall 1986) as she gently shook and
pulled Zesta. By 1030 Zesta was left alone. In total we observed six adult males, one adult female
and infant, two subadult males, four subadult females and two juvenile males at the scene of the
incident (not including Zesta). Of these, Janie, a late subadult female, was observed to be present
in maximal tumescence. By the time of nesting all community males had been seen. Duane, the
alpha male, Andy, a subadult male, and Black, were all observed to have sustained superficial
injuries. A fecal sample collected from Duane during the afternoon of the attack was found to con-
tain pieces of flesh, thus further implicating his involvement in the attack (fecal samples were not
collected from other individuals). The flesh (approximately 2 cm^2 ) was identified as that of a chim-
panzee by the hairs attached. We suggest, from the nature of Zesta’s wounds, that the swallowing
of flesh was probably accidental, rather than intended cannibalism. Two sections of muscle (4 cm^2
and 2 cm^2 ) were also found in the flattened area where the fight had occurred.The next day, Ruda and her family returned to visit Zesta’s body.
The severity of the attack on Zesta (see Fig. 8.2) is akin to the severity of inter-
community attacks on single males, as described for example by Muller (2002: 118–9).
Fig. 8.2: Zesta after the attack (photo: K. Fawcett).