Chimp & See Talk

How good are you at chimp matching and how you learned it?

  • AnLand by AnLand moderator

    And what tips to you have to get started with chimp matching?

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  • LirSam by LirSam scientist

    What I learned about identifying chimpanzees (or any other animal for that matter) is that it is very individualistic. Some people will first memorize ear marks, nose patterns, coloration etc., and usually the more you are acquainted with the specie the easier it gets to just identify individuals by their faces!

    how do you identify individuals?

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  • Lesterj1972 by Lesterj1972 scientist

    I would suggest first looking for unusual or unique identifying features.

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  • akalan by akalan scientist

    Faces are quite easy for me, but of course we often do not have a good view of chimpanzee faces in our camera trap videos or when following habituated chimpanzees in the forest. Something that came quite naturally to me was to use bum patterns, the callouses on the bums of males form 'heart shapes' that are individualistic and females of course have sexual swellings. This way both the front and back are usually easily recognizable if you have a clear view.

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