Kibale Chimpanzee civil war Puts Uganda at Center of Global Research

Researchers are focusing fresh attention on Kibale Forest National Park after an NTV Uganda report highlighted deadly violence within the Ngogo chimpanzee community, one of the largest known wild chimpanzee groups.

The conflict has drawn international scientific interest because researchers say the once-cohesive group split into Western and Central factions before years of lethal attacks followed.

The University of Texas at Austin said the case is the first clearly documented permanent fission in wild chimpanzees, based on nearly three decades of field observations.

Reuters reported that the violence began after the split, with coordinated attacks targeting adult males and infants. Researchers documented 24 deaths through 2024, with the toll later rising to 28.

Scientists are treating the Ngogo case cautiously. Lead researcher Aaron Sandel warned against loosely calling it a “civil war,” while noting that the violence shows how former group members can become rivals after social bonds break down.

The events have also increased attention on Kibale as a major site for primate research, conservation monitoring and wildlife tourism. Researchers are expected to continue tracking the rival groups to understand how the conflict affects chimpanzee behavior, territory and long-term population stability.