One day in March 1983, when Malibu and Poupée had their sexual swellings and their male suitors crowding at their heels, they started to climb a Uapaca tree, and right away the hostility arose between the highest-ranking male Brutus and Schubert, his impressive young challenger. Immediately the smaller and younger Macho joined forces with Schubert. Both young males, with their hair on end, faced Brutus and screamed at the top of their voices. Brutus had to choose between chasing them or remaining close to the females. Falstaff, the oldest male of the group, approached Brutus in what looked like an attempt to quieten him. Brutus stretched his hand towards Falstaff to enlist his support and Schubert now had to face both of them. Falstaff barked at him and Brutus chased Schubert and Macho up the big aerial roots of the Uapaca tree. Macho, who was farther away from Brutus, displayed above him. Schubert and Macho returned towards the females, hoohing loudly. Then, as Schubert and Macho threatened Brutus again, he approached Falstaff sitting nearby. As the ill-tempered team approached, Falstaff wanted to leave, but an upright Brutus stretched his hand towards him, looking alternately at Falstaff and Schubert. Undecided about what he should do Schubert hoohed for a short time. Nothing happened. Then Schubert threatened Brutus with an extended arm wave. Falstaff made a reassuring move towards Brutus. Once more, the two older chimpanzees chased the younger team away. Schubert in a wild display rushed through the forest and chased all the chimpanzees up into the trees, while Brutus quickly returned to Malibu and Poupée.

During the week when both females were at the peak of their sexual activities, the conflicts between Brutus and Schubert continued either 40 metres high up in the tallest trees where the females had climbed or on the ground where manoeuvring between the males could develop in its full complexity.