Why Do The Chimpanzees Of The Tai Forest Share Meat? The Value Of Bartering, Begging And Hunting

On a cold morning in December 2005, the chimpanzees of the South Group were walking swiftly and silently through the open forest of Tai National Park. Sagu, Gogol and Zyon, the highest-ranking males and best hunters in the group, were at the front of the line. They were followed closely by Sumatra, Olivia, Atra and their brood. The chimpanzees suddenly stopped and stood motionless and in silence for what felt like an eternity. Sagu looked back at Gogol, grinned and started walking again, this time at a faster and more excited pace. Before I knew it, Sagu, Gogol and Zyon had each climbed up a different tree and were closing in on a monkey that had broken away from the rest of the red colobus group. Gogol took hold of the monkey and after banging it a few times against the tree, he climbed down and started tearing open its limp body.All of the other chimpanzees approached Gogol. But before they could take their share, Atra, one of the lowest-ranking females in the group who was sexually receptive at the time, stood upright and began to holler at Gogol, tugging softly on the carcass. After a few exchanges of grins and screams, Atra walked away with the entire catch and shared it only with her infant, Athena. Why did Gogol and the rest of the hunters let Atra keep the monkey to herself? And why didn't any of the higher-ranking females attack her or demand a piece of meat for themselves?