|
The
Jane Goodall Institute
8700
Georgia Ave Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD
20910
Phone: 240-645-4000 . http://www.janegoodall.org
See
Page on this site.
Founded
in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute
continues Dr. Goodall's pioneering
research into chimpanzee behavior --
research which transformed scientific
perceptions of the relationship between
humans and animals. Today, the Institute
is a global leader in the effort to
protect chimpanzees and their habitats. It
also is widely recognized for establishing
innovative community-centered conservation
and development programs in Africa, and
the Roots & Shoots education program,
which has groups in more than 87
countries. JGI's newest programs in Africa
are linked not only geographically through
the Congo Basin watershed, but also
thematically by addressing the root social
and economic factors that shape human
relationships with the
environment.
Fifi,
Gombe chimpanzee known around the world,
is missing and feared dead
We
are very sad to report the disappearance
of 46-year-old Fifi &endash; known to many
around the world as a central figure in
the wild chimpanzee community studied by
Dr. Jane Goodall. Fifi's two-year-old
daughter, Furaha, also is
missing.
Researchers
at the Jane Goodall Institute's Gombe
Stream Research Centre in Tanzania have
not seen Fifi or Furaha since late August.
Initially, Fifi's absence seemed
unremarkable, said Michael Wilson,
co-director of research at the Centre. She
had shifted her range to remote northern
valleys at Gombe, and so was spotted
infrequently. But worries mounted in
mid-September when a graduate student saw
a large group of mothers from the north
traveling without Fifi. Then, on 17
September, researchers saw Fifi's
6-year-old daughter Flirt traveling
without her mother &endash; surprising
behavior for such a young female. The
field staff and park rangers searched
intensively for Fifi throughout October
but could find no sign of her. "We don't
know whether Fifi is still alive, or what
happened to her if she is no longer
living. As of yesterday, Flirt was still
traveling without her mother," said Wilson
on Nov. 12.
"It
is deeply disturbing that Fifi has been
missing for so long, and mortifying to
think that she may be gone forever," he
said. "We are still hopeful that Fifi may
be alive, hidden in a remote northern
valley, but as time continues to pass
without any sign of her, the chances of
her survival seem slim."
When
last seen, Fifi appeared to be in good
health. Also, it seems clear that the
fires which swept through Gombe National
Park in August were not a factor in her
disappearance; researchers spotted her
late in the month, after the fires were
quelled.
Profound
loss
Fifi
is the last chimpanzee from Dr. Goodall's
early days as a researcher. Jane watched
her grow from a lively and curious
2-year-old to a high-ranking female and
one of Gombe's most successful mothers.
And the world watched too, thanks to
Jane's books, National Geographic magazine
and the many television films about Gombe.
It is not uncommon for people attending
Jane's lectures just about anywhere in the
world to ask for an update on
Fifi.
As
a member of the "F" family, which included
Fifi's famous mother Flo and notoriously
aggressive son Frodo, Fifi was a central
player in Gombe's chimpanzee group. She
contributed greatly to Gombe research on
mothering, sexuality, tool use and so much
more. Her death would be a profound loss
for researchers at the Centre and most
especially for Dr. Goodall.
Fifi
was a highly curious and fearless
youngster, thriving under Flo's skillful
mothering. Some of this spirit was
captured in photographs by the late Hugo
van Lawick, Jane's first husband and a
wildlife photographer and filmmaker. In
one image, a young Fifi is peering up
under Jane's safari shirt hoping to find
bananas. In another, Fifi peers intently
up into Hugo's camera lens, head cocked,
studying her own reflection.
Fifi
learned invaluable lessons about male
behavior from her older brothers, Faben
and Figan. While most young females
can be intimidated and even terrified of
males during courtship, Fifi had observed
the aggressive posturing and displays of
her brothers, so she was better prepared
than many young females for the rigors of
the mating ritual.
Flo was very playful with her offspring
and Fifi watched her mother carefully and
imitated her behavior. Jane observed
Fifi dangling her infant with one foot
while tickling him&endash; a unique play
maneuver she had only seen previously in
Flo.
Fifi was reproductively successful, giving
birth to her ninth offspring at the age of
44. Most females don't raise more than two
or three offspring to reproductive
maturity, but at the time of her presumed
death, Fifi had five adult offspring,
Freud, Fanni, Frodo and Flossi.
Freud and Frodo both achieved alpha
status. Fifi's brother, Figan, was the
most powerful adult male in Gombe's
(documented) history. He held his position
for ten years with the support of his
brother, Faben. Fifi had at least 10
grandchildren, and Fifi's descendants
together constitute more than one-quarter
of the main study community.
Her life was not without difficulty. In
1997, she became ill during an epidemic of
sarcoptic mange. She lost all of her hair,
and sadly her son Fred became sick and
died. As soon as Fifi recovered and
started growing her hair back, she came
into estrus and immediately conceived.
Daughter Flirt was born in July
1998.
Although Jane stopped active field
research in 1986 to focus on conservation,
there has remained a mysterious connection
between Jane and Fifi. Year after year,
when Jane returned to Gombe and entered
the forest she knows so well, Fifi would
appear, as if on cue &endash; to the great
delight of any accompanying film crew.
Often Fifi would sit near Jane as she did
so many times over the last 45 years. Like
old friends enjoying an overdue reunion,
she and Jane would sit still for a long
time, and seem to commune in
silence.
You
can find a more detailed version of this
release and photos of Fifi, including one
of Jane and Fifi, through our online press
kit, www.janegoodall.org.
Founded
in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute
continues Dr. Goodall's pioneering
research into chimpanzee behavior --
research which transformed scientific
perceptions of the relationship between
humans and animals. Today, the Institute
is a global leader in the effort to
protect chimpanzees and their habitats. It
also is widely recognized for establishing
innovative community-centered conservation
and development programs in Africa, and
the Roots & Shoots education program,
which has groups in more than 87
countries. JGI's newest programs in Africa
are linked not only geographically through
the Congo Basin watershed, but also
thematically by addressing the root social
and economic factors that shape human
relationships with the
environment.
The
Jane Goodall Institute
8700
Georgia Ave Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD
20910
Phone: 240-645-4000 , http://www.janegoodall.org
See
Page on this site.
|
......
