My Life with the Chimpanzees

Goodall’s fieldwork at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania blurred the lines between humans and animals, uncovering the fascinating emotional and social lives of chimpanzees. Her discovery that chimpanzees possess an intricate social structure, characterized by ritualized behaviors and forms of communication, shifted the governing paradigm of human exceptionalism to reveal the emotional and social complexity of our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom.

In Goodall’s observations of chimp behavior, she notes that she did not like all chimps the same, saying, “Because chimpanzees are so like humans, and because each has his or her own unique character, there have been some individuals that I have not liked very much, some that were just okay, and some that I have liked very much indeed” (91). This acknowledgment emphasizes the fact that chimpanzees are individuals. Their diversity of personalities parallels human social dynamics, reflecting a deeper truth about their individual complexity.

In the same way, Goodall discusses these foundational differences in the emotional and social lives of various chimpanzee mothers, writing, “There are good chimpanzee mothers and bad chimpanzee mothers” (96). The ability to be either good or bad underscores variability in maternal behaviors. Much of Goodall’s research focused on Flo, the matriarch of a dominant chimp family whose legacy dominated at Gombe. Goodall also reflects on Flo’s daughter, Fifi, and her behavior as a mother as she ascended into motherhood over the years of Goodall’s research. Goodall observes, “Fifi was affectionate and protective, tolerant and playful. Some of her behavior was inherited, or instinctive. Some she had learned from watching Flo caring for Flint and Flame. Some she had acquired by practice” (96). Goodall characterizes Fifi as affectionate, protective, tolerant, and playful, projecting social and emotional characteristics onto an individual chimpanzee based on behavioral observations. Goodall also discusses the interplay of nurture and nature—inheritance and instinct versus learning and practice—to emphasize the roles of learning and natural inclination in the development of chimpanzee behaviors. Much like humans, chimps learn from their mothers how to be mothers. This is extended to the way individual chimpanzees interact with the world through behaviors that are both inherent and taught, reflecting their deep emotional and social complexity.

Many of Goodall’s insights into the internal states of chimpanzees came from her observations of Flint. Goodall recounts, “I watched how Flint gradually learned to use more and more of the different calls and gestures […] some of these gestures are just like ours—holding hands, embracing, kissing, patting one another on the back” (75). Additionally, Goodall provides evidence of chimpanzees’ capacity for cultural transmission of knowledge. Flint’s gradual acquisition of communication through social cues and observed behaviors shows his learning process. Thus, chimpanzee communication is revealed to be both complex and deeply familiar; they use gestures analogous to human actions, indicating a shared emotional repertoire.

Goodall goes on to describe Flint’s development: “He became very self-assured. He would threaten chimps older and stronger than he was, because he knew that if they dared to retaliate, his mother, his sister, or one of his brothers would rush to help him.” (92). With this, Goodall offers a glimpse into the social dynamics and hierarchies within chimpanzee communities. Flint’s behavior and confidence, bolstered by familial bonds, exemplify the impact of social support within chimpanzee hierarchies and on individual development and self-perception. Goodall notes that Flint became a “spoiled brat” because of his familial support, revealing how behaviors are influenced by familial relationships and social positioning and challenging simplistic views of animal behavior. Flint could manipulate social situations to his advantage, indicating a level of strategic thinking and social awareness in these primates. This reveals that chimpanzees, like humans, navigate intricate social networks that affect their attitudes.

However, Flint’s confidence and behavior, cultivated through his deep attachment to his family, also led to his death. Flint died three weeks after his mother drowned, likely due to his intense attachment and grief. Goodall writes, “He ate almost nothing, he stayed mostly alone, and in this state of grief he felt sick. This often happens when we are very miserable, because then the body’s defenses against disease are weakened” (95). Flint’s death after his mother’s reveals an intense bond and vulnerability that parallels the human experience of loss and mourning. It reveals a deep capacity for chimpanzees to feel, love, and long for others.