The Chimpanzee is the closest relative to us, human beings. Even though we share over many of the same chromasones humans evolved as the dominent species and not chimps.

Of all the great apes, the chimpanzee is probably the most familiar to most people. They are the most social of the apes, living in groups of at least a dozen individuals.













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Unlike most other primates, a chimpanzee's arms and legs are equal in length, more like a human being's. They walk upright, but cannot straighten their knees, which causes them to tilt forward.

Chimpanzee's typically weigh about 65 lbs. for females, and 90 lbs. For males. The live for about 40 or 50 years. Much like us chimpanzees are omnivores; they eat fruit, nuts, leaves, honey, eggs, bark, insects, birds, and small mammals. Occasionally, they kill and eat monkeys, young antelope, and other small animals.

Chimpanzee population is something that is very difficult to track, and almost as difficult to estimate. Chimpanzees live mainly in Central Western Africa as well as Western and Eastern Africa.

MATING: Chimpanzee mating rituals are close to human ones. Interactions involving normal behaviors for thrusting movements were recorded as copulation. Interactions that lacked apparent thrusting movements or insertion were recorded as genital contact. Contact behaviors between adults or adolescents included: non copulatory mounting, genital rubbing, and rump to rump contact.

Right now there are many chimpanzees in captivity, and prospects for breeding in captivity look good. But, like many other things, there are many obstacles to overcome. There are many chimpanzees that need to be rehabilitated, and those chimpanzees usually come from two sources: infants confiscated from illegal traffickers, and unwanted chimpanzees in captivity.

Habitat protection is the most important way to keep chimpanzees alive and well. There have been some difficulties in selecting which habitat to protect. Chimpanzees make it difficult to identify theoptimum habitat for the species. Chimpanzee population in humid tropical forests vary as much as they would in any other type of habitat the chimpanzees have lived Tropical forests should not just be assumed as the best habitat. Chimps can live in other types of habitats too.

Some sources suggest that open grassland-woodland-forest may be the most suitable areas in which to maintain chimpanzee lifestyles. Deforestation is a major cause of species decline in all tropical regions, and is certainly a major threat to some chimpanzee populations. Because of this, we have to pay more attention to other types of habitats.