Chimpanzee

Our closest relative

Chimpanzees are more like us than any other animal: they laugh, hug, play and even make tools — they 'fish' for termites with a stick! Chimps live in big families and make friends by grooming each other's fur. Their home is the rainforests of Africa. Every evening they build a fresh 'bed' high in a tree.

The chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is a great ape whose genome is 98.8% identical to ours; it lives in the rainforests and savannas of West and Central Africa. Communities of 20–150 have male hierarchies, alliances and 'politics'. Culture: each group has its own tools — sticks for termites, stone hammers for nuts, leaf cups for water (Jane Goodall, 1960, Gombe). Diet: fruit (60%), leaves, insects, sometimes hunting (colobus monkeys). A gesture 'language' of over 60 signs; laughter, grief and empathy have been observed. They live 40 years in the wild. Threats: logging, bushmeat hunting, Ebola; 170,000–300,000 remain; IUCN: Endangered.

Fun facts

• Chimpanzee genes are 98.8% the same as ours.
• Each chimp group makes its own tools — that is 'culture'.
• Chimps know over 60 gestures and can laugh.