Surprising Facts About Chimpanzees
They use tools – Chimpanzees make and use tools like sticks to fish termites, rocks to crack nuts, and leaves as sponges.
They plan ahead – Chimps have been observed saving tools for future use, indicating forethought.
They learn sign language – Some have been taught over 200 signs in American Sign Language.
They understand fairness – Chimps can become upset if they feel another chimp gets a better reward for the same task.
They self-medicate – Chimps eat specific bitter plants to treat parasitic infections.
They mourn the dead – Groups will gather silently around a deceased chimp and even stroke or groom the body.
They recognize themselves in mirrors – This shows self-awareness, a rare trait among animals.
They can deceive – Chimps sometimes hide food or pretend not to know something to manipulate others.
They share 98.8% of human DNA. We are closer to chimps than rats are to mice.
They can catch human diseases including colds, flu, and even Ebola.
They have better short-term memory than humans – In memory tests, some young chimps outperform adult humans.
They can go bald. Like humans, some chimps experience hair loss with age.
They have individual fingerprints. Just like humans, every chimp has unique finger and toe prints.
They walk on knuckles – But can also walk upright for short distances.
They form lifelong friendships. Especially males, who build strong social bonds.
They go to war. Troops of chimps have been seen planning and executing raids on rival groups.
They patrol borders. Male chimps guard territory and will attack outsiders.
They have power struggles. Alpha males are challenged and overthrown, often through coalitions.
Females use politics too. Female chimps sometimes form alliances to resist domineering males.
They hunt and eat meat – Chimps have been seen hunting monkeys and sharing the meat.
They pass down traditions. Tool use, foraging styles, and gestures vary by group, much like human cultures.
They love ripe fruit. Bananas, figs, and mangoes are favorites, but they’ll also eat insects and eggs.
They chew leaves to make “green tea” for digestion or detoxification.
They have long childhoods. Young chimps stay with their mothers up to 7 years.
They play with dolls. Young females sometimes carry sticks or logs as if they were infants.
They share food with infants. Often gently and deliberately.
They’re endangered, mostly due to habitat loss and poaching for bushmeat.
“Ham” the chimp flew into space on a Mercury mission in 1961.
They’ve worn fashion. Some wild chimps have been spotted wearing grass “accessories” for no practical reason, possibly as fashion or display!
They can learn from watching TV. Chimps have been known to imitate actions they see on screen.
