Science & Technology

Chimps share 95% to 98% of the same DNA as humans.

Referred to as the most intelligent animals on the planet, chimpanzees, sometimes called chimps for short, are incredibly smart mammals. They are great problem-solvers, toolmakers, communicators, and rather emotional creatures. But their presence on Earth is consistently dwindling. There are currently around 150,000 to 250,000 in the wild. Keep reading to learn more fascinating facts about the chimpanzee!

Ancestry and Evolution

Recent reports of pan fossils found in Kenya that date back to the Middle Pleistocene (126,000 to 770,000 years ago) suggest that both humans and chimpanzees lived during that period. The only other member of the genus Pan is the bonobo (also known as a pygmy chimpanzee), a smaller but equally intelligent ape. The two species are the closest living relatives to humans.

Appearance

Chimpanzees are relatively large creatures, weighing between 71 and 130 pounds and standing 3.25 to 5.5 feet tall. Apart from their face, palms, and soles of their feet, their bodies are covered in coarse black hair that keeps them warm and protects them from the sun. Chimpanzees have large hands and long fingers as well as an opposable big toe that allows them to grab on to things. A chimp’s arms are longer than its legs, which is why they walk on their fists (also known as knuckle walking). Similar to humans, chimps have 32 teeth, including large canines that assist them in chewing flesh.

Chimpanzee Diet and Habitat

Chimps are omnivorous, meaning they eat plants, berries, and meat. Their favorite foods are berries, fruits, seeds, and flowers. They also love eating termites and ants. On occasion, a chimpanzee will choose larger prey, such as monkeys, birds, and even small antelopes. Female chimps are less likely to feed on meaty flesh as they prefer fruits, seeds, and leaves. It is not uncommon to see a chimp forge a tool to assist them in obtaining food. For example, they use sticks that can reach into trees to gather termites and ants for their meal.

These primates are found in different parts of Africa. They make their homes in rainforests, swamps, woodlands, grasslands, and savannas. There are four different subspecies of chimps and one that is considered a proposed subspecies. Each lives in different parts of Africa.

• Western Chimpanzee
• Central Chimpanzee
• Eastern Chimpanzee
• Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee
• The proposed subspecies is called the Southeastern Chimpanzee, though it is not recognized by the ICUN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Reproduction and Lifespan

Again, much like humans, a female chimp gives birth to one baby each pregnancy. The baby is called an infant, with a gestation period of around eight months. The infant will ride around clinging to its mother’s fur for the first several years. The mother teaches her young many things about how to survive in the wild.

Chimps can live up to 60 years, though in the wild that is uncommon. Those who make it as far as 12 to 15 years old will likely live another decade to 15 years. Many do not even live to be as old as 15. In captivity, however, it is much more likely that they can reach up to 60 years old.

Predators

Because most of their lives are spent high in the trees, chimpanzees do not have to worry too much about large ground predators. The biggest threat to chimps is humans, who kill them for meat and destroy their homes. Tree logging reduces the animals’ habitat, leaving them nowhere to rest or seek safe shelter. Beyond humans, other primates such as baboons, as well as leopards and large snakes, pose a deadly threat to chimps.

There are 150,000 to 250,000 chimpanzees in the wild. They are considered an endangered species.

Famous Chimpanzees

Due to their high intelligence and ability to adapt to their surroundings, several chimps have become famous over the years.

• Fred Muggs was a cohost on NBC’s Today Show in the 1950s
• Koko learned how to communicate using sign language and became widely known around the world.
• Michael Jackson, a famous singer, had a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles.

1. The chimpanzee and bonobo are the closest living relatives to humans.
2. Chimps are omnivorous, meaning they eat plants, berries, and meat.
3. Considered an endangered species, chimpanzees in the wild number from 150,000 to 250,000.