Abstract
The M group chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, began to feed on three agricultural fruit species, guava, mango and lemon. It took them 7–8 years until they began to taste these fruits since the villagers left the park area in 1974. Although adult chimpanzees are conservative in their feeding habits, they are capable of rapidly acquiring new feeding habits, or new traditions, once they notice that the food is suitable.
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Takahata, Y., Hiraiwa-Hasegawa, M., Takasaki, H. et al. Newly acquired feeding habits among the chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. Hum. Evol. 1, 277–284 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02436585
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02436585