Chimpanzee

Chimpanzees inhabit at least 21 African countries, from coastal rainforests in Guinea to woodland-savanna mosaics in Tanzania. Their strong arms, opposable thumbs, and prehensile toes allow them to climb trees for fruit and descend to the ground to travel between feeding sites. Chimps live in fission-fusion societies: a community of up to 150 individuals breaks into smaller parties that gather where figs ripen or rivers flow.

Tool use sets chimpanzees apart from most animals. They strip leaves from twigs to fish termites out of mounds, crack nuts with stone hammers, and chew sponges from leaves to drink water caught in tree holes. These techniques are passed on as cultural traditions; juveniles watch patient adults and practice until they master each task. Hunting parties of males sometimes coordinate to chase colobus monkeys, sharing meat afterward through vocal pleas and hand gestures.

Communication mixes hoots, pant-grunts, drumming, and expressions such as pouted lips or raised hair. Grooming reinforces friendships, while dominance displays—charging, stomping, or shaking branches—settle disputes. Females typically give birth every five to six years and nurse infants for four years or longer. Young chimps ride on their mother’s back, experiment with play tools, and form life-long bonds with siblings and cousins.

Human encroachment threatens chimpanzees. Logging and agriculture fragment forests, and hunting for bushmeat or illegal pet trade reduces populations. Diseases like Ebola or respiratory infections can sweep through a community. Conservationists collaborate with local villages to establish forest reserves, train eco-guards, and support alternative livelihoods that reduce reliance on hunting. Sanctuaries care for rescued orphans, while long-term field sites monitor health, culture, and numbers over decades.