In the 1980s, De Waal became known with his book Chimpanzee Politics. That book is based on his observations of a struggle for power in the chimpanzee colony of Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem. The book showed that not brute force and direct exercise of power, but rather conflict mediation, plays a part in the leadership of a great ape.
Primatologist Frans de Waal died at the age of 75
