Frodo (1976 -)

Frodo's childhood was very different from Freud's. Fifi's first-born had spent hours — sometimes days — alone with his mother. Even though, like Flo, Fifi is a sociable female, she often spends time away from other adults. By the time Frodo was born Freud had been weaned, and could travel on his own four limbs and make his small nest at night. Even so, he was still emotionally dependent on Fifi. Freud traveled with his mother and her new son Frodo for three years after Frodo's birth. Thus Frodo had an ever-present playmate and role model, baby-sitter and protector.

Frodo spent hours watching his elder brother, then often imitated (or tried to imitate) Freud's behavior. Frodo soon became something of a bully. He became one of Gombe's few accurate stone-throwers! He hit on the idea of moving ahead of other chimps and rolling huge rocks down toward them — the rocks ricocheting from one tree to another causing the chimps (and sometimes Jane) to scramble out of the way. Frodo became notorious when he leapt at and pummeled Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson when the artist visited Gombe.

Battles for alpha position
For many months Freud and Frodo traveled together. But their relationship gradually became tense. By the time Frodo was in his late teens, it was clear he had his eye on the alpha position. He challenged his brother only in the company of other young and restive males, at which time Freud would display wildly at him until Frodo was terrorized. When Frodo was 20 years old, he weighed some 120 pounds — the heaviest chimp known at Gombe. Finally, in 1997, Freud became sick with mange and Frodo was able to overthrow him.

Frodo ruled with brute force, but in December 2002, when he himself grew ill, he became subject to attack and was forced to hide from the community. Researchers wondered if he would survive the disease that had painfully reduced his once magnificent form. But early in 2004, Frodo appeared to be on the mend. He was seen joining big groups and even hunting, killing a colobus.

After much speculation about which chimpanzee would emerge as the new alpha male, Sheldon — known as a loner with a brave streak — briefly established himself as alpha until Kris took over in 2005.