Outamba is a female in her mid-twenties.

Of all the Kanyawara females, she is one of the best habituated and most frequently encountered.

When in the field the researchers like to follow Outamba - she is slow enough for them to keep up with. Her young stop often to investigate things in the forest, to wrestle and to chase one another while their mother waits patiently for them (and the researchers) to catch up.

Chimpanzees females are less gregarious than males, and are often found alone or in small all-female parties.  They also tend to establish small "core areas" within the territory rather than ranging all over with the males.

Outamba foraging © Melissa Emery Thompson

Outamba's core area is in the center of the Kanyawara range where the most high-quality fruit is available.  As a result, she has produced many healthy offspring for a female of her age.

Her first daughter, Kilimi, was born in 1994 and is approaching maturity, when she is likely to transfer to another community as most chimpanzee females do.

On 13th February 1998 Outamba gave birth to a second daughter, Tenkere, in front of the project's researchers - a rare event!

Outamba pant-hooting with her daughter, Tenkere © Jean-Michel Krief

It was in 1999 when Outamba suffered blows from the top male in the community - Imoso when he attacked her with a large stick - the first time a chimpanzee has ever been observed to use a 'weapon' for hitting another chimp.

After Tenkere was born her mother got pregnant again and the next infant followed very quickly in 2001. It was a male this time - by the name of Tacugama.

It is extraordinary for wild chimpanzee infants to be born so close together and yet still survive and thrive.

Mother and daughter - Outamba with Tenkere © Jean-Michel Krief

In 2005, Outamba gave birth to her most recent infant, Omusisa.

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