Protect Chimpanzees
The Chimpanzee population might decline by 80 % over the next 30-40 years.
See all 5 projects in this cause
It's easy: download the viaGood app and support projects in this cause!
Chimpanzees are intelligent and able to learn, e.g. sign language.
The **Chimpanzee **(Pan), along with other apes, is one of the closest relatives of man. They also share up to 99 % of DNA with us ( more precisely 98.8 %). Two species of Chimpanzees are known – Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and Bonobo (Pan paniscus). According to the IUCN Red List, both species are listed as endangered. Of the original approx.1 million individuals at the beginning of the 20th century, there are now about 172 000 to 300 000 left in the wild. Chimpanzees live an average of 31.7 years (males) and 38.7 years (females) in the wild.
Did you know… the oldest Chimpanzee was Little Mamma, who died in 2017 at the age of between 76 and 82 years?
Two juvenile central chimpanzees. Source: Wikipedia
**Chimpanzee **(Pan troglodytes) is also known as the common chimpanzee, robust chimpanzee or just chimp. Their home is the tropical rainforest, dense tree savannas and bushy landscapes of equatorial Africa. They are also encountered in mountain forests up to 9 850 feet above sea level. They are covered with black or gray hair, except for the ears, face, palms and soles. Faces are usually pink, darkening to black with age. Ears are covered with tufts of hair. Size: in an upright position, they measure approximately 3 to 5.5 ft and weigh approximately 70 to 130 lb. Males are larger and more robust than females.
Four subspecies of Pan troglodytes have been recognized and the fifth subspecies is a matter for discussion and possible approval. All subspecies are listed as endangered according to the IUCN Red List, except for the Western Chimpanzee, which is critically endangered.
-
Central Chimpanzee or **Tschego **(Pan troglodytes troglodytes)Their home is Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Population: about 140 000 individuals in the wild.
-
Western Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus)Their home is Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Ghana. Population: about 52 800 individuals in the wild.
-
Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes *ellioti *or also Pan troglodytes vellerosus)Their home is the wooded border areas of Nigeria and Cameroon. Population: about 6 000 - 9 000 individuals in the wild.
-
Eastern Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)They are found in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia. Population: about 180 000 - 256 000 individuals in the wild.
-
Southeastern Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes marungensis)There is a controversy about this "new" subspecies, but well-known Australian primatologist Colin Groves believes that they should join as the fifth subspecies of Pan troglodytes. They live in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Bonobo disperse the seeds of more than 91 species of plants at several km. Source: Wikipedia
Bonobo (Pan paniscus) They are also known as Pygmy Chimpanzee, Dwarf Chimpanzee or Gracile Chimpanzee. Their home is the lowland rainforests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bonobo is characterized by relatively long legs, pink lips, a dark face and split long hair on the head. It differs from the Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) by walking upright, matriarchy, egalitarian culture and the important role of sexual intercourse in their society. **Size: **as the name suggests, the Bonobo is smaller than the Chimpanzee. In the upright position, it measures approximately 3.8 ft and weighs approximately 86 lb. According to the IUCN Red List, Bonobo is listed as endangered and there are 20 000 - 40 000 individuals left in the wild.
Comparison of size of Bonobo and human. Source: viaGood
In Chimpanzees, more than in other animals, we can trace human aspects of behavior. These include caring for close relatives, collaboration in hunting, sharing food and maintaining long-lasting friendly relationships. They are able to learn and acquire skills by learning, they can use tools, they solve problems together and, thanks to long-term memory, they remember individuals, places and events. Chimpanzees also are self-aware (unlike most other animals, they recognize that the reflection in the mirror is themselves and not another Chimpanzee).
In addition to using tools, some Chimpanzees have been able to learn basic human sign language. Washoe, a captured female Chimpanzee, was able to learn 350 words in American Sign Language (ASL).
Distribution of Chimpanzees in Africa. Source: viaGood
**Chimpanzees have the most complex social life of all apes, **not counting humans. They control a wide range of facial expressions, body poses, gestures, mimics, signals and sounds. They create and use simple tools.
Did you know… Chimpanzees spend about 5 hours per day eating?
Chimpanzees are active mainly during the day. After dawn, they go out for food and spend most of their time eating, resting and moving about. Like Gorillas, they prefer to move on the ground before moving through the trees. They walk on all four limbs. Like Gorillas, every adult builds a nest to rest in at night.
A captive chimpanzee, eating. Source: Pixabay
The main part of their diet consists of tree fruits, which are complemented by freshly sprouted leaves, seeds, soft bark, sap, juicy resin, flowers and nuts, for which they use a stone to crack. Although Chimpanzees are mostly vegetarians, they also consume animals. Delicacies include termites, ants and caterpillars. A group of Chimpanzees occasionally works together to hunt larger birds and mammals, including young pigs, monkeys and antelopes.
Did you know... scientists assume that the Chimpanzee, Bonobo and humans had a common ancestor about 7 million years ago?
**Chimpanzees are extremely strong and fast. **It is estimated that they are about 4 times stronger than a human of similar size. When running, they can reach speeds of 25 mph.
Jane Goodall in 2015. Source: Wikipedia
Valerie Jane Morris Goodall is a great advocate for the protection of Chimpanzees. This English primatologist has made a number of discoveries, e.g. she found that Chimpanzees use tools, that they can express their emotions and that they are carnivores. She also found that Chimpanzees kill each other.
Since 1900, the number of Chimpanzees has fallen by more than 70 %.
It is estimated that there were about 1 million Chimpanzees in Africa at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, there are about 172 000 - 300 000 individuals left in the wild. Chimpanzees have become extinct in 4 of the 25 countries where they used to live (Gambia, Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin). Current trends suggest that the African monkey population will decline by another 80 % over the next 30-40 years. We have about a generation and a half, maybe two, left to change this trend.
Habitat Loss and Degradation Degradation of forests by logging, mining and agriculture contributes to the loss of primate species in tropical Africa. Due to the evolving infrastructure, the remaining parts of the habitat are often small and unconnected, so that Chimpanzee populations remain isolated.
The worst situation is in West Africa, where only remnants of the primary rainforest remain. Small populations of Western Chimpanzee, Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee and Eastern Chimpanzee are located in small reserves and national parks. In many such "protected areas", poaching is common for meat and juveniles, as is illegal logging and farming.
Illegal Hunting – Bushmeat "Bushmeat" (the meat of African wild animals as food) has always been the primary food source in the countries of Central and West Africa. In recent years, this hunt has increased significantly and what used to be hunting for own food has taken on a commercial dimension. Most meat is delivered to city dwellers, who pay high prices for it.
A study in Congo showed that hunting was outpacing the annual increase in ape population by 5-7 %. In addition, apes are often injured or killed by traps intended for other animals.
Illegal Trade After poachers shoot their mother, Chimpanzee infants are often taken alive and sold in cities as pets.
Diseases Their similarity to humans means that the same diseases are a danger to Chimpanzees. In Central Africa, an area currently affected by Ebola, there are two species of apes: the Western Lowland Gorilla and the Chimpanzee. Both were severely affected by a virus that drastically reduced their numbers. The disease probably had a major impact in Odzala National Park (a park with probably the highest density of apes in Africa).
Protected forests and fighting against poachers can save Chimpanzees.
What can be done to save Chimpanzees? There are many things each of us can do!
Habitat Protection Due to the large human population explosion that Africa is currently experiencing, great emphasis must be placed on protecting the landscape, i.e. habitats where wild animals live, including Chimpanzees. Current reservations and parks have limited capacity, so it is necessary to expand these parks. At the same time, it is important to protect these reserves from poachers and to advocate for more thorough protection against poachers and illegal logging.
Establishment of Sanctuaries Rescued Chimpanzees who have been illegally held by poachers or traders are placed in safe rescue stations. There they are given the necessary care before being returned to the wild.
Awareness Raising In many areas, people have no idea how endangered Chimpanzees are, and also that they are protected by Law. Education plays a key role in protection. For this reason, it is necessary to organize campaigns to increase awareness and the need to protect Chimpanzees.
Ecotourism The fact that African wildlife is a great attraction for tourists can provide a huge opportunity for locals. The influx of tourists will bring funds to even the most remote areas, so locals can refrain from poaching or other plundering of natural resources.
