Social rank overrides environmental and community fluctuations in determining meat access by female chimpanzees in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

High-ranking female chimpanzees in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, consistently secure greater access to meat compared to their subordinates, regardless of fluctuations in community size or seasonal ecological changes. This dominance advantage persists over time, even though females rarely hunt themselves. The study analyzed 773 meat-eating events spanning 25 years across two chimpanzee communities, revealing that social rank overrides environmental and demographic factors in determining presence at and acquisition of meat during feeding events. Additional female traits—such as oestrus status, nursing young infants, or age—also positively influenced their likelihood of being present and securing meat. These findings support the hypothesis that dominance rank is a key factor conferring long-term benefits for high-ranking females, providing critical insights into the evolution of social hierarchies in our closest living relatives.

Riedel, J., Polansky, L., Wittig, R. M., & Boesch, C. (2020). Social rank overrides environmental and community fluctuations in determining meat access by female chimpanzees in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. PeerJ, 8, e8283. Portico. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8283