It’s been over six months since Mika, the alpha male chimpanzee Ngamba Island Sanctuary community , was inexplicably found dead at a point away from the bedrooms of this island.

The struggle for the leadership began shortly after, but no definition happened. Candidates who seemed more proper to assume the function, which is essential in a group of great primates, have failed to consolidate as the maximum support leader.

Eddie, who since the beginning seemed motivated to replace Mika, failed to get support from other adults and a precarious alliance with Maisko was not well understood by the community

Kisembo seemed the more determined to assume the leadership, having the conditions of personality needed to take it , but failed to get enough allies in the community of males and when he tries to show power he is not taken seriously .

Kalema, in the early days of the disappearance of Mika , showed great interest in replacing him, but he has a big drawback: he cares very much for getting  the better portion of the food and does not invest time in mobilizing the group to collect new foods .

With the lack of leadership , maybe a candidate who was not considered at the beginning of the struggle for power is outlined as one of the most likely to assume the position. It is  chimpanzee Umutama . He has a strong relationship with a group of males, such as Eddie , Tumbo , Robbie and Maisko , and when he makes statements of strength, no other males face him, which is a characteristic to measure his strength and influence in the group .

It does indicate that a definition in the coming weeks will be achieved and possibly Umutama will take the category of alpha male of the group.

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian

President , GAP Project International