These intelligent animals differ from humans by just over 1% of DNA and, not surprisingly, have behaviour patterns very similar to us, forming close social groups, using tools, working as a team and waging war against each other. They also show human-like non-verbal forms of communication, holding hands, kissing, tickling etc.
Chimpanzees have black hair and bare, pink to black skin on their faces, ears, palms the soles of their feet. They walk on all fours, using their knuckles for support, so have evolved longer arms than legs. The long arms prove invaluable in swinging from branch to branch and reaching out to pick fruit. They are omnivores, eating fruit, seeds, insects and the meat of small mammals. In spite of their loveable appearance, chimps are formidable and sophisticated hunters, working as a group to cut off all escape routes before going in for the kill.
Like us, chimps have opposable thumbs, and they also have opposable big toes. Adult males weigh 40-55kg, and are about 1.2m high when upright, with the females a little smaller. These long-lived animals can survive for up to 50 years in the wild, and in captivity have been know to live for over 60 years.
It is estimated that there are now no more than 150,000 chimpanzees left across all of Africa, with habitat loss, bush meat hunting, and poaching of infants being the major factors in the declining numbers.
