Customer Reviews

National Geographic: New Chimpanzees (1995) [VHS]

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I saw this program on PBS. I even recorded it. I recently purchased a copy. This was the best video on Chimpanzees I had seen. This one was great because it showed the Bonobo chimp. I have yet to see another National Geographic with them it it. The Bonobo is called the Pygmy Chimp. It is the same size as the other species but it is more delicate and has a more child-like face. It is a matriarchal society where the females run the show. The other species have males at the head of their societies. The Bonobo don't fight or go to war like the other species. They use sex to defuse tense situations.

I particularly enjoyed the footage of tool use amoung varius groups of chimps. The behavior is learned because some groups crack open nuts while other groups have not learned that ability even though nuts are plentiful in their areas as well.

This would be a great program for schools. Don't miss this one. It is destined to be a classic.

I agree that this is an excellent and unique film especially because it has valuable footage on the rare and endangered bonobo or pygmy chimpanzee. I show it every year to my university students. No species is closer to us than the bonobo and it may be going extinct right now. This film may be much of its legacy to civilization and a high quality print should be made available on DVD.

Along with Among the Wild Chimpanzees, The New Chimpanzees is a classic. It beats me why National Geographic does not keep it in stock. Here's why. It covers all aspects of chimpanzee behavior, from protecting the borders of their territory to coalition politics on the hunt to warfare to cannibalism.

There is an all-too-short segment on the bonobos which, nevertheless, covers the dominance hierarchy of females, its influence on male hierarchy, and the use of sex to defuse tension and to integrate the group.

The New Chimpanzees also shows the cultural side of chimps and bonobos. We learn about the differences between Gombe and Tai chimps in hunting colobus monkeys, the gathering of foods (nut cracking among the Tai chimps, which is not practiced in Gombe, and the absence of termite fishing in Tai), speculations about using medicine, and mortuary practices (maternal behavior as an infant dies).

The film pulls no punches (cannibalism, warfare, hunting) and brings everything covered in Among the Wild Chimpanzee (1982) up to date (as of 1995). It also tracks Flo's lineage to the third generation through Fifi to her offspring Frodo and Freud--and their rivaly around the top of the hierarchy. For those reasons, I use both films in my classes when time allows; Wild Chimpanzees is a good introduction, and New Chimpanzees provide both update and additional details.

As I said, I cannot understand why National Geographic does not produce and stock more copies. This is a lapse on its responsibility to provide what is excellent in its collection.

It would be an excellent public service if we had a full-length film on the bonobos and a comprehensive update on Gombe and Tai. There are a couple, but they are not comprehensive.