chimpansees

Chimpansees (also called chimpanzees) are a group of great apes native to tropical Africa. They belong to the genus Pan, with Pan troglodytes as the best-known living species, and are closely related to humans and bonobos (Pan paniscus). Several subspecies of Pan troglodytes are recognized across West and Central Africa, including western, central, eastern, and Nigeria–Cameroon chimpansees.

Chimpansees live in communities with fission–fusion dynamics: group size and composition change as individuals join or leave for foraging and other activities. They form long-term social bonds, engage in grooming, and communicate through a rich repertoire of vocalizations, facial expressions, and gestures. Tool use is widespread in the wild, including termite fishing with sticks, leaf sponges, and, in some populations, the use of stones to crack nuts.

Their diet is omnivorous, dominated by fruit but also including leaves, seeds, insects, and occasional meat from hunting. They traverse home ranges that can cover several square kilometers and may travel long distances to exploit food patches.

Reproduction involves a female giving birth after a gestation of about eight months, with infants weaned after several years. Males often form alliances and participate in territory defense; females typically disperse from their natal group at maturity. Lifespans in the wild reach roughly 30–50 years; they live longer in captivity.

Chimpansees are classified as Endangered by the IUCN, with numbers in decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation, hunting for bushmeat, and disease outbreaks. Conservation measures include protected areas, habitat restoration, anti-poaching efforts, and long-term field studies.