Preliminary Study of Feeding Competition Between Baboons and Chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania

Abstract

Of eight primates sympatric to chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus cynocephalus) are the second largest in size after chimpanzees. Baboons in Mahale have invaded the chimpanzee range over the year. Group size, range use, feeding behavior, and diet of baboons and chimpanzees were recorded during the same season to investigate the interspecific relationship. The data indicate feeding competition between the two species. Chimpanzees may be negatively affected by the competition due to there dependence on specific ripe fruits, as their dietary items significantly overlap with those of the baboons.