Chimps We Know

The "F" Family

Frodo

(1976 - )

Frodo's childhood was very different from his elder brother Freud's. Fifi's first-born had spent hours–sometimes days–alone with his mother away from other adults.

By the time Frodo was born, Freud had been weaned, could travel on his own four limbs and make his own small nest at night. But he was still emotionally dependent on Fifi and travelled with her and little Frodo–who gained an ever-present playmate, role model, baby-sitter and protector. He spent hours watching his elder brother often imitating him (or trying to).

Frodo soon became something of a bully. And one of Gombe's few accurate stone-throwers! He hit on the idea of moving ahead of other chimps on a hill and rolling huge rocks down toward them–the rocks ricocheting from one tree to another causing the chimps (and sometimes Jane) to scramble out of the way.

Frodo became notorious when he leapt at and pummelled Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson when the artist visited Gombe.

Battles for alpha position

For a long time, Freud and Frodo travelled together. But their relationship gradually became tense. By the time Frodo was in his late teens, it was clear he had his eye on the alpha position.

He challenged his brother only in the company of other young and restive males, at which time Freud would display wildly at him until Frodo was terrorised. When Frodo was 20 years old, he weighed some 120 pounds–the heaviest chimp known at Gombe. And in 1997, when Freud became sick with mange, Frodo was able to overthrow him as alpha.

Frodo ruled with brute force until December 2002, when he himself grew ill, became subject to attack and was forced to hide from the community. Researchers wondered if he would survive the disease that had painfully reduced his once magnificent form. But as of early in 2004, Frodo appears to have mended, although he is no longer alpha.