Gombe Chimpanzee Research

At 45, Gremlin is one of Gombe's oldest females. She is also one of its most successful mothers, here pictured with two of her offspring.
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At 45, Gremlin is one of Gombe's oldest females. She is also one of its most successful mothers, here pictured with two of her offspring.
Sheldon, one of Gombe's oldest males and former alpha male.
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Sheldon, one of Gombe's oldest males and former alpha male.
Sheldon the chimpanzee rests in a tree.
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Sheldon rests in a tree.
Sheldon the chimpanzee rests in a tree.
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Made famous by Jane Goodall's pioneering research on chimpanzee behavior, Gombe National Park is located in western Tanzania and is distinguished by steep valleys and vegetation ranging from grassland to rain forest.
Gremlin shares meat, stolen from a male, with her baby.
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Gremlin shares meat, stolen from a male, with her baby.
Ferdinand, at 23, is the group's alpha male.
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Ferdinand, at 23, is the group's alpha male.
Desai and Gombe field assistants record pant-hoots.
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Desai and Gombe field assistants record pant-hoots.
Desai recording in the field.
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Desai recording in the field.
Desai and Gombe field assistants record pant-hoots in the African jungle.
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Desai and Gombe field assistants record pant-hoots.
Desai demonstrates recording techniques to Gombe field assistants.
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Desai demonstrates recording techniques to Gombe field assistants.

International graduate student Nisarg Desai spent two months in Gombe this summer, observing, recording, and training field guides to document pant-hoots. His days could involve anything from tracking chimps for miles through the jungle to remaining immobile for hours at time as a group rested.  

He became well-enough acquainted with the chimpanzees that he was able to recognize many on sight. He documented everything from day-to-day social interactions to more exciting incidents like a mother stealing meat from a male to give to her baby.

"I'm excited to go back to Gombe next summer,” he says. “Chimpanzees exhibit striking similarities to humans; sometimes it appears like they are laughing, or thinking. I'd like to go back and observe more social interactions. I really enjoyed being there."