About the Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee is the common name for two extant (still living) species of ape. A fully grown adult male chimpanzee can weigh from 35–70 kilograms (75–155 pounds) and stand 0.9–1.2 meters (3–4 feet) tall, while females usually weigh 26–50 kilograms (57–110 pounds) and stand 0.66–1 meters (2–3½ feet) tall. Chimpanzees rarely reach the age of 40 in the wild. In captivity chimpanzees have been known to reach over 60 years old. The chimpanzee does not have a tail.

Chimpanzees are very intelligent. They are known to use tools to spear Senegal Bush Babies out of small holes in trees. Young chimpanzees have outperformed human college students in tasks requiring remembering numbers. They can also use a stick to poke a termite mound and crack nuts.

Chimpanzees share an estimated 98% of our genes. They are more closely related to humans than any other animal.

Chimpanzees forage for food for 6-8 hours a day. Depending on seasons, activities shift regularly. Chimpanzees spend about a hour each day grooming.

The natural enemies of chimpanzees include leopards and large eagles, which prey on young animals.

Why Are Chimpanzees Endangered?

They are endangered mainly because of deforestation which is causing them to lose their habitat. Chimpanzees are also hunted. They used to number over one million. Now, they barely reach 300,000 in number. They are also hunted for bush meat.

Chimpanzees once inhabited 25 African countries. Now, they are extinct in 3 or 4 countries and nearing extinction in many others.

All four subspecies of chimpanzee (eastern chimpanzee, western chimpanzee, Nigerian chimpanzee, and central chimpanzee) are endangered.