Capturing and toying with hyraxes (Dendrohyrax dorsalis) by wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at Bossou, Guinea

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verzus) were observed capturing and toying wit h western tree hyraxes (Dendrohyrax dorsalis, Order Hyracoidea) at Bossou, Guinea. An adolescent female carried one hyrax for 15 hr, slept with it in her nest;, and groomed it. The captive was not consumed. Nearby adults igno red the hyrax. In another case, two adolescent males timidly inspected a sm all hyrax. These observations indicate that the chimpanzees at Bossou do no t regard the hyrax as a prey animal, supporting the idea that lack of oppor tunity does not seem to be the only reason that; chimpanzees do not consume an individual of a potential prey species. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.