9 Incredible Chimpanzees Facts

Chimpanzees, also known as chimps, are a species of great apes belonging and are prominent in African areas. Their close genetic relationship to humans, intelligence, and complex social behaviors make them subjects of great interest and study. Doesn’t this sound interesting?

Did you know that chimpanzees are the most intelligent primates on the planet? It’s true! Chimpanzees share similar IQ levels, but that’s just the beginning. There are many more chimpanzee facts that will leave you stunned. We’ve compiled a list of facts about chimpanzees that will shed more light on the characteristics of these clever chimps.

9 Incredible Chimpanzees Facts

1: Chimpanzees Are Humans’ Closest Living Relatives, Sharing About 98% of Our DNA

Human and chimpanzee DNA is remarkably similar, with a 98.8% identical match. Humans, chimps, and bonobos share a common ancestor that lived 6-7 million years ago, forging a close evolutionary relationship. However, DNA evolution in chimpanzees has been slower compared to other mammals. Consequently, changes in DNA over generations result in distinction in the appearance and behavior of humans and chimps.

Furthermore, humans and chimps have nearly identical proteins and similar chromosome structures.

2: Chimpanzees Live in Complex Social Groups Led by an Alpha Male

Chimpanzees live in social groups, and the alpha male holds the highest rank within the group. The alpha males are at the top due to their strategies, which are influenced by their personalities.

The alpha male enjoys several benefits, including mating rights and responsibilities, patrolling territory, and resolving conflicts within the group. Furthermore, the alpha male is constantly looking for potential successors to take up his position. Below the alpha are other males, including friends in his coalition and potential rivals seeking to defeat him.

3: Female Chimpanzees Give Birth Once Every Five Years

Chimpanzees exhibit many similarities to humans, including their reproductive processes. Female chimpanzees have menstrual cycles akin to humans and enter estrus approximately every 36 days unless they are pregnant. They reproduce about every five years, typically giving birth to one baby. The gestation period lasts around eight months. 

After birth, infants cling to their mother’s back until they are three to five years old. Furthermore, female chimpanzees may mate with any male in their troop, irrespective of their social status.

4: Chimpanzees Are Omnivorous

Chimpanzees are omnivores with diverse dietary habits. Their diet primarily includes fruits, nuts, leaves, plants, mushrooms, flowers, insects, and meat. Half of their diet includes figs, serving as a key energy source. Insects, such as ants and termites, constitute approximately 4% of their overall diet.

5: Chimpanzees Are the Most Intelligent Primates on Our Planet

Chimpanzees are among the most intelligent primates and can solve various problems given by human trainers. This chimpanzee fact highlights their ability to use sign language or symbols to communicate with humans and can remember these signs even after years of not using them. 

The intellect chimps can recognize themselves in mirrors and exhibit emotions such as caring and mourning. In the wild, they communicate through facial expressions, gestures, and various vocalizations, including screams, hoots, grunts, and roars.

6: Chimpanzees Can Live Up to Their 80s

The average lifespan of a chimpanzee in captivity is approximately 38 years. However, the average life expectancy of wild chimpanzees is about 33 years. The oldest recorded chimpanzee was Little Mama, who was about 80 years old when she died in 2017.

7: Chimpanzees Walk on Two Legs

Chimpanzees primarily walk and stand on all four legs, a type of locomotion known as quadrupedal locomotion. They can also swing through trees using their arms. However, occasionally, chimps stand up and walk bipedally, similar to humans. 

8: Wild Chimpanzees Are Only Found in Africa

Chimpanzees predominantly inhabit the rainforests of central Africa, where they find essential resources like water and fruits crucial for their survival. Among the various chimpanzee species, the eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) and central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) are primarily found in the Central African Republic.

9: Chimpanzee Populations Are Endangered

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies chimpanzees as endangered, and their populations have declined significantly since the 1980s. Currently, only 170,000 to 300,000 chimpanzees remain in the wild. Major threats to their survival include habitat loss, hunting, disease, and deforestation driven by human activities such as farming, logging, mining, oil extraction, and infrastructure development. Furthermore, illegal wildlife and bushmeat trades pose continuous threats to chimpanzees.

Conclusion

Chimpanzees are among the primates with a recorded lifespan of about 80 years. As an endangered species and the most intelligent of the primates, they face numerous threats to survival. The chimpanzee facts discussed above highlight their remarkable intelligence, diverse characteristics, and the various challenges they face in the wild.

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