Chimpanzees are “great apes.” The other great apes are bonobos, gorillas, orangutans, and humans. Chimpanzees and humans share approximately 95% of their DNA; old studies reported a 98% match but a study in 2002 showed that a 5% divergence is more accurate. Chimpanzees are more closely related to humans than they are to gorillas.
Chimpanzees are endemic to the forests and savannahs of equatorial Africa. Their current range spans 21 African countries. Chimpanzees are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. Scientists estimate there are between 170,000 and 300,000 chimpanzees currently living in the wild.
Chimps are known for their intelligence and remarkable problem-solving abilities. Researchers have observed chimpanzees successfully using tools to help them in their day-to-day lives, such as using sticks to pull insects out of the ground or using rocks to crack open nuts.
Where do the chimpanzees live?
Chimpanzees are found in 21 African countries, from Tanzania in the east to Senegal in the west. They inhabit rainforests, woodlands, and even savannas.
There are four recognized sub-species of chimpanzee: eastern chimpanzee found in East Africa, western chimpanzee found in West Africa, central chimpanzee found in Cameroon and Congo, and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee found in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Chimpanzees are one of the few animals that are known to use tools
Much like humans, chimpanzees utilize self-made tools in order to feed and protect themselves, and have found ingenious ways to do so. From using small branches to dig out termites from their mounds, to smashing rocks to crack open nuts to searching the right length of twig to scratch themselves, chimpanzees have real creativity in turning tools to their benefit.
Chimps are our closest relatives
Chimpanzees share about 98% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom. This genetic closeness translates into several similarities in behaviour and biology. For instance, chimpanzees can express a range of emotions, show empathy, and even exhibit signs of self-awareness, much like humans. They also have the ability to learn and adapt.
They’re Very Smart
Chimpanzees are among the world’s most intelligent animals, and their cognitive abilities are often compared to those of human children. Chimpanzees demonstrate problem-solving abilities, similar to those of human children aged 3 to 5 years. They can solve complex puzzles, use tools to obtain food, and navigate social situations. For instance, chimps are known to use sticks to fish for termites, use rocks to crack open nuts, and use leaves as makeshift sponges to soak up water from hard-to-reach places. These behaviours require understanding of both the tool and the problem at hand.
Chimpanzees have also shown they possess a working memory comparable to human children. They can remember the location of objects and use this information to make decisions. This skill is evident in both wild and experimental settings.
They can walk on two legs
Chimps get around by a lot of climbing and swinging from tree to tree. Not unlike gorillas, chimpanzees usually walk on all fours, otherwise known as knuckle-walking, but have been recorded to walk on two feet on the rare occasion.
Chimps have incredible strength
Chimpanzees are very strong. When compared to humans, chimpanzees have a higher proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers, contributing to their superior strength. These fibers provide quick, explosive force, enabling chimps to perform physically demanding tasks with ease. They are estimated to be about 1.5 to 2 times stronger than an average human.
An adult chimpanzee typically stands about 3 to 4.5 feet tall when on two feet and weighs between 88 to 130 pounds, with males being larger than females. Their size and agility are perfectly suited for their arboreal lifestyle in the forests.
Chimpanzees are not only strong but also quite fast. On the ground, they can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. Interestingly, chimpanzees are not natural swimmers and generally avoid water. Their body structure, with a more massive upper body and shorter legs, makes swimming difficult for them. They also lack the natural inclination or need to swim in their natural habitats.
Chimps live in large communities
Chimpanzee communities are fascinating. A community can have up to 100 members, but they often split into smaller groups for daily activities like foraging or grooming. These primates have a complex social hierarchy, with an alpha male leading the group. The alpha male is not always the strongest physically but often the most intelligent and capable of maintaining alliances. These social dynamics are crucial for the stability and survival of the group.
Chimps use a system of vocalizations, facial expressions, and body language to communicate. They have specific sounds for different situations – alarm calls for danger, soft grunts when they find food, and loud hoots during social gatherings. These sounds vary in pitch and intensity, conveying different meanings. Studies have shown that chimpanzees can learn sign language or symbols to communicate with humans.
Chimpanzees exhibit a wide range of emotions, including joy, anger, grief, and empathy. They comfort each other in times of distress, showing a level of emotional intelligence that is rare among animals. Observations of chimpanzees mourning the loss of a group member or caring for orphaned infants highlight their capacity for deep emotional connections.
They have a lot of enemies
While generally social animals, chimpanzees can exhibit deadly behaviour towards members of their own species. Male chimpanzees are more commonly involved in aggressive encounters that can lead to lethal outcomes. These confrontations can occur within their own group or with members of neighboring chimpanzee communities. Territorial conflicts are among the most common reasons for such violent encounters, as chimpanzees are known to be highly protective of their group’s territory.
Chimpanzees also face other formidable predators in the wild. In the dense foliage of the African rainforest, leopards are capable of ambushing and overpowering even the strongest apes. While they might target younger and more vulnerable members of the ape families, a determined leopard can pose a serious threat to adult chimpanzees and gorillas as well. On the savannah, lions present a significant danger to chimpanzees venturing out of the forest cover. Besides these big cats, chimpanzees also face threats from other large predators like crocodiles, and pythons.
What do chimpanzees eat?
Chimps are omnivores, but their diet primarily consists of plant-based foods. They eat fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers, and leaves. However, they also hunt and eat meat occasionally, preying on smaller animals like monkeys or bushbucks. Insects like termites and ants are also a part of their diet. Their diverse diet plays a role in seed dispersal, aiding in forest regeneration.
They have a long childhood
Chimpanzees have a prolonged childhood, staying close to their mothers for about 7 years. During this time, they learn essential life skills, such as foraging for food, building nests, and socializing within the community. This extended period of learning and development is crucial for their survival in the social structure of their communities.
Chimps build nests every night
Each night, chimpanzees build new nests to sleep in. Chimpanzees build nests for several important reasons, primarily related to safety, comfort, and health. These nests, often constructed high in the trees, serve as their sleeping quarters. By bending and weaving branches and leaves together, they build nests that provide a comfortable and stable platform. They act as a cushion against the hard tree branches, and the leaves provide additional insulation, helping to regulate temperature during the night.
Reproduction
Although similar to human beings, chimpanzees mate only for reproduction. Female chimpanzees reach maturity by age 13 and when a female hits maturity, she will develop a large pink swelling on her behind, portraying that she is ready to mate. Females can engage with different mating partners or specifically one, but in most cases, they engage with several.
Their gestation period lasts 8 months and they can give birth at any time of the year to one offspring. For the first two years, the offspring will hang on to the mother for support and protection. Weaning among chimpanzees is at 4 years and after that, they become independent. However, sexual maturity in both males and females is about 10 to 12 years.
In conclusion
The chimpanzee tracking safaris are excellent tours that will give you an opportunity to encounter a community of chimps in their natural home, observe their classes and leadership, see how they use tools and communicate with each other, and other interesting behaviors.