Research links territorial behavior in chimpanzees, humans

CHICAGO -- Animal researchers have known for some time that chimpanzees are very much like us.

But a new study shows that just as we go to war sometimes to protect our territory and way of life, so do chimps.

For over 30 years, Lincoln Park Zoo has been involved in chimpanzee research to find out why chimps - mostly male chimps - can be so war-like in the wild. Here, chimps can get to be somewhat aggressive but it's nothing like in Africa.

"We've known for awhile now that chimps can be very aggressive," said Steve Ross, a chimpanzee research specialist. "We see them actually doing a form of warfare against their neighbors in which other chimpanzees die as a result."

This isn't so surprising because DNA research shows that chimps and man are 98 percent alike. But until now, it was thought to be because of man overtaking their natural habitats. The new research disputes that.

"It's not because humans are crowding them but it's because... because they want to show they can control their territory," Ross said. "They need access to resources so they kill off other competing males that are around them."

In a Lincoln Park Zoo video from the heart of chimpanzee territory in Africa, we see the peaceful and even playful side of the wild chimps. Yes, they are so like us. But when an intruder enters their territory, the males go on deadly patrol.

"If they come across a neighboring intruder, they will attack it, they will obviously... they will kill it in many circumstances," Ross said.

Scientists say that chimpanzees and man split about seven million years ago, but even after all these years, we are still so much the same and not only because of aggression.

"I think it's very relevant that chimpanzees share what we have as well, which is compassion and forgiveness," Ross said. "Actually making up after some of these aggressive encounters within their group is a terribly important part of their society."

They make war and they make peace. Sounds familiar.