Managing aggression in multi-male, multi-female chimpanzee groups (1996)

Bloomsmith, M. A., Lambeth, S. P.

Abstract

We found that wounding aggression was minimal during introductions of females to males or other females, and during male-male introductions of formerly single-caged adolescent and young adult males having long-term prior visual familiarity. Serious wounding occurred during male-male introductions, particularly when there were major discrepancies in their ages and social experience. Once groups are established, there is more wounding in multi-male than single-male groups.