CASE-STUDY OF A CHIMPANZEE RECOVERED FROM POACHERS AND TEMPORARILY RELEASED WITH WILD CONSPECIFICS

This case study describes the behavior of Bahati (BA), a captive, wild -born, 4-6 yr old, female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii), before and after her temporary release into Kibale National Park, Uga nda. Post-release interactions with habituated, wild chimpanzees were recorded. BA was not attacked by the wild chimpanzees at the time of i ntroduction and observations during her period of travel with conspeci fics indicate that she received significantly more affiliative contact than aggressive. BA foraged further from humans, glanced less at obse rvers and climbed ever higher in the canopy as the project proceeded. BA associated closely with two wild chimpanzees: a fully adult male an d a young juvenile female. In the latter stages of the project, she sp ent progressively less time in proximity to conspecifics. After six we eks, BA no longer followed wild chimpanzees and repeatedly returned to human settlements. The attempt was terminated after two months and BA returned to captivity. On the basis of this case study, we suggest po ssible adjustments to re-introduction criteria, and discuss the outcom es of pre-release training, public involvement, and health screening u nder field conditions.