Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee refers to two species of great apes in the genus Pan: the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and the bonobo (Pan paniscus). They are native to the forests and woodlands of West and Central Africa, occupying a range from lowland tropical forests to savannas and swamps. Chimpanzees are highly social, living in fission-fusion communities whose size and composition change over time. They organize into communities with complex social structures, where bond strength, grooming, vocalizations, and gestures influence access to resources and mating opportunities.

Diet is omnivorous, dominated by fruit but including leaves, seeds, eggs, insects, and small to medium-sized vertebrates. They are skilled tool users, using stones to crack nuts, sticks to probe for termites, and a variety of modified tools suited to different tasks. Communication includes a wide repertoire of vocalizations, facial expressions, and gestures, with cultural variation observed between groups.

Reproduction typically involves lengthy maternal care. Females give birth roughly every 6-8 years in the wild, with a gestation of about 230 days; infants remain dependent for several years. Lifespan in the wild commonly reaches 40-50 years, and longer in captivity.

Conservation status for both species is endangered, driven by habitat loss, fragmentation, hunting, and disease. Chimpanzees are among humans’ closest living relatives, sharing about 98-99% of our DNA, and have played a central role in primatology and cognitive science through long-term field studies and observations of their behavior and social complexity.