I n Uganda’s Kibale National Park under the canopy of fruit trees a group of chimpanzees groom each other cleaning dry skin and seeds from their fur As a three-day-old infant sleeps in its mother’s arms the infant’s older sister gently reaches out a finger to touch her new sibling A pair of two-year-olds chattering and squealing chase each other around a tree and nearby an older female examines the mouth of a young male with a loose tooth The female calmly CHIMPANZEES 7
picks up a twig and begins cleaning around the tooth Suddenly a leopard bursts from the underbrush Screaming and hooting the females and young take to the trees The adult males rush toward the leopard shrieking waving sticks and throwing rocks at the intruder Despite its hunger the leopard quickly realizes it is no match for the mob of chimpanzees It dashes away into the forest to wait until dark when it will try again 8 LIVING WILD
