Chimpanzees occur only in Africa, there are thought to be in the region of 30,000 left but encroachment by humans which allows hunting and transformation of their habitat places them in danger of extinction.
We share about 98.6% of our critical DNA with chimpanzees, they have a life span of 40 – 50 years (75 in captivity) and females weigh 25 -50kg with males weighing up to 90kg
Most of their diet consists of plant material although they eat a wide range of animal material and products from honey to the meat of small mammals which they actively hunt. They may feed on 20 different plant species a day and up to 300 different plant species a year. Termites and ants are important in their diet as they are high in energy
Chimpanzee behaviour is complex and in many ways like ours, they have a need for close physical and social contact in order to receive pleasure and overcome agression. Play in young chimpanzees serves the same function as it does in humans. Play is important to the development of social bonds and friendly relationships between individuals, these friendships may last for life.
Chimpanzees use tools and stones are used as both anvils and hammers to crack open nuts and hard fruits, Chimpanzees have been seen carrying stones to places at which they expect to use them. Sticks are used for a wide variety of tasks including to break open the entrance to termite mounds and to open up holes in trees. They use grass stems or blades to fish for termites in tunnels that they have opened up in termite mounds.
The forests of Africa which cover 520 million hectares are rapidly decreasing with many tropical forests being converted to other land uses such as plantations of oil palm, rubber and other cash crops, along with the loss of habitat and the bushmeat trade (of which Africa is the most dependant country) which is linked to the pet trade as the adults are slaughtered and the young taken to the market to be sold as pets in either households or establishments such as bars or nightclubs, others are sumggled over international borders and sold as either pets or to animal research facilities for testing purposes.
Sanctuaries all over Africa collectively care for over 670 chimpanzees, 80 Gorillas, 40 Bonobos, 200 Drills and thousands of baboons and other primates
Quick fact: almost 90% of wild animals admitted to a rehabilitation center sustained injuries due to human negligence.
