Chimpanzees of the Lakeshore: Natural History and Culture at Mahale

Chimpanzees are humanity's closest living relations and are of enduring interest to a range of sciences, from anthropology to zoology. In the West, many know of the pioneering work of Jane Goodall, whose studies of these apes at Gombe in Tanzania are justly famous. Less well-known, but equally important, are the studies carried out by Toshisada Nishida on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Comparison between the two sites yields both notable similarities and startling contrasts. Nishida has written a comprehensive synthesis of his work on the behaviour and ecology of the chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains. With topics ranging from individual development to population-specific behavioural patterns, it reveals the complexity of social life, from male struggles for dominant status to female travails in raising offspring. Richly illustrated, the author blends anecdotes with powerful data to explore the fascinating world of the chimpanzees of the lakeshore.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Frans de Waal; Preface; Introduction; 1. At the beginning; 2. Food and feeding behaviour; 3. Growth and development; 4. Play and exploration; 5. Communication as culture; 6. Female life histories; 7. Sexual strategies; 8. Male political strategies; 9. Culture; 10. Conservation and the future; Postscript; Acknowledgements; References; Index.

About the Author :
Toshisada Nishida is Executive Director of the Japan Monkey Centre and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Primates. He has conducted pioneering field studies into the behaviour and ecology of wild chimpanzees for more than 45 years.

Review :
'Chimpanzees of the Lakeshore is [Nishida's] swansong to a long and illustrious career, a memoir of sorts written in the form of an accessibly written and very informative monograph about the chimpanzees of Mahale. It is partly history and partly an overview of Mahale chimpanzee behavior and ecology, the story of the animals, their behavior and ecology, and the conservation issues facing them. It is also a good read for any student interested in primate field studies, and for colleagues interested in gaining some insight into this man and his perspectives on research, career, and life in the field … enhanced by a wealth of black-and-white photos, a gallery of color photos, and selected graphs and tables …' Craig B. Stanford, American Journal of Physical Anthropology