Chimpanzee
- Class: Mammals (Mammalia)
- Order: Primates (Primates)
- Family: Great apes & humans (Hominidae)
- Genus: Pan
- Species: Pan troglodytes
Size
Standing upright the chimpanzee is 1.5 m in height and weighs 45 to 80 kg.
Ecology
Chimpanzees spend as must time in the trees as on the ground, but sleep and feed predominantly in trees. They are highly social animals, and live in loose, extended groups often numbering more than 100 animals. They have partly overlapping home territories, even though all individuals of a group are seldom seen together.
With the exception of the bonobo (pygmy chimpanzee), chimpanzees are humans’ closest living relative. Their complexity of facial expressions, high level of intelligence, ability to solve problems or manufacture tools, in many respects bear striking similarities to humans.
Food habits
Chimpanzees are predominantly herbivorous (vegetarian), but also consume insects and meat.
Longevity
Chimpanzees live to approximately 30 years in the wild, and up to 50 in zoos.
Reproduction
The female’s behind swells when she is in heat, this being a signal to the males that she is ready to mate. She reaches sexual maturity at 8 to 10 years of age, and the gestation period is 8 months.
Infants are weaned when they are approximately 3 years old, but usually remain with their mother until they reach 5 or 7 years of age.
Conservation status
Throughout centuries, forest dwelling people of Africa have hunted animals for food, this included the African great apes, and until now this subsistence ‘bushmeat’ hunting has had a relatively low impact on the populations of wild animals. Over recent decades, hunting has become commercialised, and protected species such as chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees) are being killed with greater frequency and by the use of guns. These events, in addition to the low reproduction rate of chimpanzees, are serious threats to the remaining populations.
IUCN Threat Category:
Endangered.
