I am a primate behavioural ecologist and expert in wild chimpanzee behaviour. I have conducted fieldwork mostly in Uganda, but have also tracked chimpanzees in Tanzania. I conducted the first detailed study of the Sonso community in the Budongo Forest, Uganda, for my PhD research at University of Cambridge, following a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from the University of Bristol in which I specialised in mammalian ecology and behaviour. Prior to coming to Kent I worked as assistant director of the Budongo Forest Project (now BCFS) in Uganda, and at Washington State University. 

My research interests span a variety of topics, but I am particularly interested in social behaviour, and socioecology.  Current interests include aggression, reciprocity, sexual coercion, home-range use and social foraging, evolution of complex cognition, and non-material culture. The majority of my work has focused on non-human primates, but I am interested in these topics in other (particularly mammalian) taxa.

I am also interested in increasing public understanding of science. I have given numerous interviews for press and broadcast media, and I am available to provide topical comment or in-depth discussion of topics related to chimpanzees, primatology and human evolution & behaviour. I have also provided expertise in primatology and chimpanzee behaviour as a consultant for Channel 5/National Geographic, BBC Science Television, Lever Fabergé, Granada Media Television, BBC Science Online, Survival Anglia Television, and the Discovery Channel Online.

Selected Publications

Newton-Fisher NE & Emery Thompson M (2012). Comparative evolutionary perspectives on violence. In: Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Violence, Homicide, and War (Eds: Shackleford T & Weekes-Shackelford V). Oxford University Press.

Birkett, L. P.& Newton-Fisher, N. E. (2011). How abnormal is the behaviour of captive, zoo-living, chimpanzees? PLoS ONE 6: e20101.

Newton-Fisher, N. E. & Lee, P.C. (2011). Grooming reciprocity in wild male chimpanzees. Animal Behaviour 81:439-446.

Newton-Fisher, N. E., Emery Thompson, M., Reynolds, V., Boesch, C., & Vigilant L. (2010). Paternity and social rank in Budongo forest chimpanzees. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 142: 417-428.

Newton-Fisher, N. E. (2007). Chimpanzee hunting behaviour. In: Handbook of Physical Anthropology (Eds. Henke, W., Rothe, H., Tattersall, I.). Springer. Pp 1295-1320.

Emery Thompson, M., Newton-Fisher, N. E., and Reynolds, V. (2006). Probable community transfer of parous adult female chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest, Uganda. International Journal of Primatology, 27:1601-1617.

Newton-Fisher, N. E. (2006). Wild female chimpanzees form coalitions against male aggression. International Journal of Primatology 2: 1589-1599. 

Full list of publications

Teaching Interests

Major: Behavioural Ecology; Comparative Primate Biology; Evolution; Research Methods

Minor: Introductory Biological Anthropology, Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Behaviour

Modules Convened

• SE580 – Primate Behavioural Ecology
• SE582 – Comparative Perspectives in Primate Biology
• SE857 – Advanced Topics in Primate Behaviour

My modules contribute to multiple undergraduate programmes, including the BSc in Anthropology, BSc in Biological Anthropology, BSc in Wildlife Conservation and the BSc in Biology, as well as the MSc in Evolution and Human Behaviour and the MSc in Conservation and Primate Behaviour.

I also contribute to:

• SE302: Foundations of Biological Anthropology
• SE567: Methods in Anthropological Science

and supervise student research in:

• SE533: Project in Anthropological Science
• SE855: Research Project (Evolution & Human Behaviour)

My particular interest is the individual in complex (e.g. fission-fusion) societies: the evolution & ecology of behavioural strategies. Specific topics include association patterns, grooming, aggression, dominance & status, the evolution of intelligence; also hunting, foraging patterns, ranging, and territoriality. My research focuses on chimpanzees. My research has added important findings for the understanding of chimpanzee society & seeks always to test and challenge existing theories.

I can offer supervision of PhD and MSc research within any of my areas of interest, broadly behaviour and ecology of primates and other large mammals, with a particular focus on chimpanzees. This can lead to qualifications in either Anthropology or Biodiversity Management.

Current Research/PhD Students

• Stefano Seraph Kiambi Kaburu

Grooming reciprocity among wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

This project aims to investigate the strategies employed by wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to reciprocate between- and within-sex grooming and the criteria for partner choice, testing specific models to explain how chimpanzees enforce and maintain grooming reciprocity.

• Kelly Greenway; Male-male competition in wild western gorillas

Media and Consultancy: I have provided my expertise in primatology and chimpanzee behaviour as a consultant for Channel 5/National Geographic, BBC Science Television, Lever Fabergé, Granada Media Television, BBC Science Online, Survival Anglia Television, and the Discovery Channel Online. I am available to provide topical comment or in-depth dicussion of topics related to chimpanzees, primatology and human evolution & behaviour.