The recent rise to the alpha-rank in a population of free-living chimpanzees.

The recent rise of a high-ranking adult male chimpanzee to the alpha male position of the Gombe National Park's Kasakela chimpanzee community is reported. The male Figan is the fourth individual to assume this status in the wild chimpanzees' social hierarchy during Goodall's 16 year study in Tanzania. The paper describes the overthrow of the previous top-ranking male, and the manner in which Figan has maintained his new position after the take-over. Emphasis is placed upon his relationship with his elder male sibling, Faben, and the second highest-ranking male in the community, Evered.