This is actually a note for myself. But there may be someone who is interested in this information so I am putting it online. Let me know if you liked the information here or any of your suggestions.
I am a really big fan of Jane Goodall and those of you who know me know that she is one of my heros. Her research of primates, in particular chimpanzees, is fascinating. I am particularly interested in the F family, whose matriarch was Flo; an older chimp female when Goodall first started research in 1960s. Jane Goodall was the first researcher to give names to her wild research subjects. She was also the first to device a system to follow matriarchal family lines of wild chimapanzees by the first letter of their name. Hence the F family is the decendents of Flo, a royal family of its group. So here I just want to keep a small geneological information of this F family that I collect.
Flo (1929?-1972): (f) Lived upto about 43 years of age. High ranking female. Gave birth to at least 5 children (3 male, 2 female). It is not known if she gave birth to any children who died before Goodall started her research. A great mother. Her personality had a great impact on Goodall herself.
Faben (1947?-1975)(m-Flo). Eldest of Flo’s alive children. Helped brother to reach alpha status in the group.
Figan(1953?-1982)(m-Flo). He was adolescent when Goodall first started her reseach on the group. Alpha male of the group between 1973-1979 with his brother’s help.
Fifi(1958?-2004?)(f-Flo): Oldest of her Kasakela group and possible the most wellknown chimpanzee among humans. The highest ranking female of her group. She was about 2 years old when Goodall started her research. She is the most successful of chimpanzee mothers with 9 children (5 male, 4 female). Which is very unusual among wild chimps, whose usually have 4-5 children. It shows her excellent mothering skills like her own mother and also her high rank in her society. Became mother at the age of 43. Sadly she disappeared in 2004 and never seen since. As the time passes the chances of finding her alive are dimnishing. She is presumed dead either because of porching or killed by neighboring group, which is more unlikely.
Flint(1964-1972)(m-Flo): He was just an infant when Jane first saw. The first wild chimp infant whose development was followed and well documented. It also gave a great insight into mother-infant relationship among chimpanzees and also chimp emotions. He died of depression a month after his mother’s death.
Flame(1968-1969)(f-Flo): Born to aging mother Flo, she died very young. The cause of her death is not known but elder brother Flint’s jealousy could not be ruled out.
Freud(1971-)(m-Fifi): The eldest son of Fifi. A popular and mostly peaceful alpha male from 1993-1997. With his relaxed and solitary nature he was very unlikely to be an alpha male. Learned a lot from his uncle Figan who was an alpha male during Freud’s impressionable years. Lost the position because of sickness to his brother Frodo. Even though he is strong he has not shown much interest since then in gaining his rank back.
Frodo(1976-)(m-Fifi): He bacame a "bully" at a very young age, as described by Goodall. As he grew he became excellent stone thrower to intimidate others and excellent hunter of colobus monkeys. By the time he grew out of teens he became the biggest and heaviest known chimp in the wild. Due to elder brother’s sickness, who was ruling alpha male at the time, Frodo was able to become alpha in 1997. He was brutal and intimidating rular till 2002 when he himself became sick and was forced to hide from others who wanted revenge from him. He is lucky to be alive and gaining his strength and getting back to the group now. It is remains to be seen if he gains his alpha position back and how this time.
Fanni(1981-)(f-Fifi): The eldest daughter of Fifi. Like her mother and grand mother Fanni is an imporant and higher ranking female of her group. She is youngest known mother but lost her first child early. She has given birth to 3 sons and one daughter till now.
Flossi(1985-)(f-Fifi): Flossi chose to leave her own group and join northern Mitumba community. Where she has established her high rank and has given birth to 2 sons.
Faustino(1989-)(m-Fifi): A younge adult now. He is very much like his oldest brother, Freud, with more of a mellow and solitary personality. He is larger in size for his age and may become alpha male as he grows older. It may not be a big surprize this time after Freud’s case. It is also more likely because he is the only male of his age in the group.
Ferdinand(1992-)(m-Fifi): An adolescent at present.
Fred(1996-1997)(m-Fifi): Died young during a time when his mother also got sick.
Flirt(1998-)(f-Fifi): Still enduring without her mother as a young child.She is fearless and a little tomboy. She was a huge baby at birth and grew at an astonishing rate. Even though she was very young at her mother’s disappearance she has survived till now and has a possibly bright future ahead.
Furaha(2002-2004?)(f-Fifi): Not seen since the disappearance of her mother.
Fax(1992-1996)(m-Fanni): First child of Fanni. He died young.
Fudge(1996-)(m-Fanni)
Fundi(2000-)(m-Fanni)
Familia(2004-)(f-Fanni)
Forest(1997-)(m-Flossi): First son of Flossi.
Fansi(2001-)(m-Flossi)
Namaste 