and chasing, and in the case of Gonza and Kwera this was in the context of sexual coer-
cion. In the case of Tinka, the actors were Nick, Zefa, two higher ranking males, and
Zimba, a higher ranking female; in these cases no sexual element was involved.
Because the number of instances in any one year is small, a second analysis of the
incidence of aggression was done over a longer time period, from January 1995 to
December 2001 (seven years). The highest scoring actors were Duane (45 instances),
Andy and Nick (adolescent males) (22 each), Black (19) and, interestingly, the adult
female Kewaya (18), who is an aggressive female who also drums on tree buttresses,
both of which are considered male-like behaviours. In all other respects Kewaya is
typically female.^53 The most frequent recipients were the immigrant adult female Clea
(27 instances) who appears to have been unpopular for reasons I am not clear about,
Nick (16) and Gashom (14), both adolescent males, and again Kewaya, the rather
aggressive adult female.
Status change
Status was not constant over time. During the 15 months of this study, MG ceased to be
the alpha male and was replaced by DN in an almost bloodless coup(MG ended up with
a bloody finger and, even more visibly, a very wounded pride). At the start of the study
MG was together with DN and VN at the top but this was an unstable period; the situ-
ation settled down during 1995 when DN became the undisputed alpha, as MG had been
for many years during the period before Newton-Fisher’s study began. The situation
shown in Fig. 6.6 above is the one that prevailed after DN had achieved alpha status.
Two further changes in status during 1995 concerned BK and BY, the former rose from
mid to high status, while the latter fell from mid to low status. BK’s rising status at this
time was to cause problems later for DN and also, in particular, for low ranking ZT; we
shall return to these events later.
Tactical association and alliance partners
Much of the manoeuvring of males in their quest for high status can be understood in
terms of ‘tactical association’. Males who are engaged in trying to rise in status have two
strategies they can pursue. The first is aggression, but this has disadvantages because it
is risky and can antagonize opponents who can find ways of thwarting the progress of
aggressive individuals. The second is both more subtle and more normal in male chim-
panzees: to form coalitions with alliance partners. We have already noted the alliance
that existed between VN and DN while DN was ousting MG from alpha status in early
- That alliance weakened as DN consolidated his position at the top, but it
re-emerged later in response to challenges.
Within their fission–fusion social system, the Sonso males associate with one another
on the basis of choices: choice of whom to move with, feed with, sit near and, especially,
126 Social behaviour and relationships
(^53) A second adult female who has been seen buttress-drumming is Mukwano.