Page 82 - World of Animals - Issue #28 Magazine

Conserving the chimpanzee

Just like us

Our primate relatives share
many traits with us, from making
friends to making their bed
Chimpanzees are charismatic and highly
intelligent beings that live in a similar way to
us. Studies have shown they develop intricate
social structures and are keen to make friends,
as well as climb the social ladder to gain
positions of authority within their groups.
In the same way humans make their
beds each day (or at least they should),
chimpanzees make a fresh sleeping nest high
up in the trees every evening, constructed
out of leaves. They also show emotional
intelligence and are very caring toward
members of their community, looking after
each other’s young should they become
orphaned or abandoned. Groups will form
bonds with neighbouring groups and share
food supplies in times of adversity.
There are four subspecies split by location:
central, west African, Nigeria-Cameroon, and
eastern chimpanzees. There is little physical
difference between them, but different
communities of chimpanzee have their
own cultures and habits that they
learn from their elders and pass on
to younger generations.
With such a striking
resemblance between man and
ape, in both personality and
looks, it is incredibly sad that
the demise of our primate
cousins is mainly down to
our actions.

Mothers and
their babies have
strong bonds; the
young will suckle
for fi ve years

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