Chimpanzees

« The chimpanzee’s resourcefulness never ceases to amaze! »

One of the most ingenious primates

Both an engineer and an inventor

A distant cousin of humans, the chimpanzee shares many similarities with us. It is, for example, one of the few primates to make and use tools to find food. When catching termites, chimpanzees will search for a suitable twig, removes the leaves, and then stick the twig into the termites’ nest. When it comes out again, the twig is covered with delicious termites and all that remains to do is eat them. This is certainly not the only tool that has been mastered by these primates. Researchers have so far identified 39 different ways in which tools are used, which are passed down from generation to generation.

Did you know?

Welcome N’Sakà!

Un Œil en Coulisse - Season 5 Episode 17

The « Un Œil en Coulisse » camera takes you to the chimpanzees: watch their feeding and observe N’Sakà, the baby chimpanzee, born in May 2021, who is gripping his mother Domi!

Beauval Nature supports the protection of western chimpanzees

In Senegal, the population of western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus), a “critically endangered” subspecies, is estimated to include only 500 individuals.

Fragmentation and loss of habitat as well as a decline in food resources are contributing to the decline of the populations of this species. The Jane Goodall Institute has developed and implemented a community conservation and chimpanzee research programme. Eco-guards will be trained to use SMART ecological monitoring software in order to collect important biological and ecological data on the chimpanzees.

Find out about this programme

Joseph, the proud leader

Joseph the male chimpanzee is the group’s established leader and tirelessly defends his place in the group from young males who would very much like to replace him.

Underneath it all he is tender at heart, taking great care of his tribe and readily protecting them too.

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Learn more about the species

Range

Africa

Diet

Omnivore
Gestation period

6½ to 8½ months
Litter size

1 to 2 young
Habitat

Savannahs, Tropical forests

A highly organised social life

The social group is extremely important for chimpanzees. Including up to 60 individuals, these groups are led by a dominant male and female. Unlike many other species, an individual’s rank does not only depend on its age and size but also on its relationship with other individuals. The dominant male chimpanzee has another essential role. When conflicts arise between several groups or with predators, it is he who is responsible for leading and organising the other males in order to achieve victory.

The pharmacist of the forest

The chimpanzee’s resourcefulness never ceases to amaze! In addition to using tools, it has also been discovered that this amazing primate knows how to heal itself using the plants that surround it. For example, it will purposefully select rough leaves in order to get rid of intestinal parasites and knows how to make poultices to heal its wounds. By studying these plants, scientific teams have been able to produce antibiotics, antimalarials, and antitumor drugs!

A real omnivore!

Another remarkable similarity between humans and chimpanzees concerns our diets. Like us, the chimpanzee can eat everything: fruits, leaves, and nuts, like its other primate cousins, but also insects and small mammals. Groups of chimpanzees have even been observed hunting other monkeys for food in the wild!