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© Sedgwick County Zoo, credit: Brent Ward

Chimpanzee

Pan troglodytes

Physical Characteristics

  • These apes have a thick black coat (older animals may have gray beard, shoulders or chest fur) and flat bare faces. The arms longer than the legs. They have an opposable thumb and big toe.
  • Size of average adult
    • height:  male =  4 feet, female = 3 feet
    • weight:  male = 130 pounds, female =  less than 100 pounds
  • Approximate life span is 35 - 45 years in the wild and 50 years in captivity.

Diet

  • Wild: mostly fruits, seeds, flowers and leaves, will sometimes hunt, kill and eat meat (young monkeys, bush pigs)

Behavior

  • Diurnal: active during the day, nest at night
  • Communities of 25-90 individuals with a definite hierarchy
  • Vocal and physical communication important
  • Tool makers and users
  • Reproduction:
    • sexual maturity: female 10-11 years, male 12-13 years
    • single births
    • gestation: 8 months
    • weaned at 5 years
    • stay with mother 6-10 years

Environmental/Global

  • Habitat: rainforests, woodlands and grasslands with trees
  • Distribution: western and central Africa
  • Numbers: approximately 150,000-235,000 in the wild (only 50 years ago there were millions!), SSP: 237, NIH labs: 1450 (1993)
  • Status: Endangered, CITES Appendix I
    • Wild: habitat destruction-human population increase and agriculture; poaching-to capture infants for pet trade and entertainment
    • Wild: This species faces great threats due to the bushmeat crisis in Central and West Africa. For more information on this alarming problem, visit the website of the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force at www.bushmeat.org.
    • Captive: human disease research, sensitivity to human illnesses

Conservation Efforts

  • Legal controls on exportation and importation of animals
  • Public education and awareness of chimps and chimp needs
  • Reintroduction and rehabilitation programs
  • Sanctuaries for orphans

Research and Investigation Programs

  • Wild: Jane Goodall-Chimpanzee behavior
  • Captive: Roger Fouts-Intelligence and communication
  • At SCZ: ChimpanZoo-Captive chimpanzee behavior observations

Suggested Readings

  • Chimpanzee Politics, Frans de Waal
  • The Chimpanzees of Gombe, Jane Goodall
  • In the Shadow of Man, Jane Goodall
  • Zoobooks: The Apes, John Bonnet Wexo

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