Chimpanzee

Description - Classified as a great ape and sharing 98% of our genes these primates are larger than one would think with males weighing up to 70kg and when standing reaching a height of 1.7m. Four subspecies of chimpanzee exist across Africa, the Western, Central, Eastern and Nigeria Chimpanzee. Prominent characteristics include long arms, opposable thumbs, a black/brownish fur and bare skin on their face, palms, ears and soles of the feet. Highly sociable primates they move in flexible groups of between 15-80 individuals with one dominant male, and communicate through a series of screams, pant hoots, squeaks and barks. Locomotion during the day is often on the ground and can either be bipedally or knuckle walking. Diet consists of leaves, fruit and other vegetation with males sometimes forming a group to hunt in packs animals such as small antelope, monkeys and baboons.

Distribution - Present throughout a number of African countries with the largest populations existing in Gabon, DRC and Cameroon.

Level of Protection - Endangered. Populations are no longer found in Gambia, Burkina Faso and Benin. Main threats are from habitat loss and hunting for bushmeat.

Best Time to visit - Tanzania: Mahale Year round (except 15th March-15th May), Gombe Year round. Uganda: Kibale/Kyambura Gorge/Ngamba Island - Year round.

Safaris Available - World primate Safaris offers safaris to see chimpanzees in Tanzania and Uganda. Please contact us for further information.