A new study has documented what researchers describe as a years-long violent conflict within a previously unified chimpanzee community in Uganda's Kibale National Park. The research details how the Ngogo chimpanzee group split into factions and engaged in coordinated attacks against each other.

Primatologist Aaron Sandel first observed signs of the emerging conflict in June 2015 while studying the chimps. He noticed unusual nervous behavior among group members, including grimacing and touching for reassurance when encountering what should have been familiar companions from their wider community.

The conflict escalated over subsequent years, with the study documenting the deaths of nearly 30 chimpanzees, including 19 infants. The violence included extreme acts of aggression, with researchers recording instances of infants being separated from their mothers and severe physical injuries inflicted during attacks.

The research represents what scientists believe may be the first documented case of a unified chimpanzee community turning against itself in this manner. The study provides new insights into chimpanzee social dynamics and the potential for coordinated violence within previously cohesive groups.

The findings add to the growing body of research on chimpanzee behavior and social organization, offering researchers new data on how conflicts can emerge and escalate within primate communities.