Gremlin Gets Ambitious

Until recently nine-year-old Gremlin was relatively low ranking and sometimes the victim of bullying by Mintak, the most powerful member in his social group of 16 chimpanzees. However, during the last few months we’ve noticed a change in the social dynamic. Gremlin has been challenging Mintak, who is only about 12 years old himself, with little negative consequence. The other chimpanzees are not supporting Mintak, as they would with a popular leader. So far they’re not rallying behind Gremlin either, but as he matures he may establish alliances. We humans are hoping for the rise of a good leader to keep peace in this group. If it’s to be Gremlin,he’ll need to be a better politician than Mintak has been. Brute force alone won’t be enough.
Male orphans in sanctuaries can mount challenges and have conflicts at an early age because these groups usually lack the natural age demographic, appropriate role models and matriarchal support typical of free-living societies. Those acting as alpha males in sanctuaries are often young and unskilled, but at Sanaga-Yong Rescue Center we have seen some orphans learn to be good leaders.
Gremlin was orphaned and taken captive in 2006 when a poacher killed his mother for the bushmeat trade. Then United States Ambassador Niels Marquardt ran across Gremlin in a small town near the border with Central African Republic. He personally worked with the Cameroon Government to make sure that Gremlin was confiscated and transported to Sanaga-Yong Rescue Center.

Photo Courtesy of Jacques Gillon