Natural Habitat of the Chimpanzee

The chimpanzee, or Pan troglodytes, is known to be the mammal closest to humans. They are one of few animal species that make and use tools. Chimpanzees carve and employ sticks to dig out insects and grubs. They also use rocks to break open nuts and leaves to collect drinking water. Even more fascinating, chimpanzees have been taught to use sign language by scientists to communicate. These mammals, so similar to humans, are in danger of losing their natural habitat due to human involvement.

  1. Habitat & Range

    • Chimpanzees make their homes in wet savannas and rain forests. Their habitat range extends throughout Equatorial Africa, according to the Sea World website. Chimpanzees live in the wild in Uganda and Tanzania. In Kenya they only exist in captivity. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, the first park in Africa dedicated to chimpanzees was the Gombe National Park in Tanzania.

    Life in the Trees

    • This intelligent species spends its time on land and in trees, doing a lot of its sleeping and feeding in trees. They move swiftly, swinging from branch to branch. When they sleep in trees they make nests out of leaves.

    Community Living

    • Chimpanzees live in communities. The size of these communities, or troops, varies from only ten to more than 100. They may not all stay together, but they live within in the same habitat range, which they protect from invaders. Foraging is done in groups of males, females or both sexes together.

    Food Source

    • The chimpanzee's primary source of food is fruit, making the rain forest a perfect habitat. They also eat leaves, blossoms and buds. As they get older they become more selective, picking the ripest fruit. They use their hands to pick fruit, but pluck berries and seeds off branches with their lips. Their habitat has such a large variety of plant life, and their diet can contain a staggering 80 different types of plant foods. Although their diet is predominantly plant based, they will also eat eggs, insects, meat and carrion.

    Threats to Chimpanzees

    • There are many threats to the survival and well-being of chimpanzees. Wild chimpanzees living in their endemic habitat are decreasing in numbers. The chimpanzee's natural habitat is being destroyed. Forests are being cut down for agriculture and other purposes. Since the chimpanzee is the human's closest relative, many are being captured and used for research, especially in West Africa. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, the recent Ebola outbreaks in the Republic of Congo and Gabon could potentially devastate the chimpanzee populations. Another very real threat is bushmeat hunters who poach chimpanzees and sell their meat illegally.