Here's why:
* Genetic Similarity: Chimpanzees share approximately 98.7% of their DNA with humans. This incredibly close genetic relationship makes them our closest living relatives.
* Behavioral Similarities: Chimpanzees exhibit complex social structures, tool use, and even rudimentary forms of language. They display emotions like grief, joy, and anger, similar to humans.
* Physical Resemblance: While not identical, chimpanzees share many physical features with humans, including:
* Similar skeletal structure
* Opposable thumbs
* Five-fingered hands
* Forward-facing eyes
* Facial expressions
* Shared Evolutionary History: Humans and chimpanzees diverged from a common ancestor approximately 6-8 million years ago. This shared evolutionary history has resulted in many similarities between the two species.
While bonobos (Pan paniscus) are also closely related to humans, chimpanzees are generally considered to share more traits with us, particularly in terms of behavioral complexity and genetic similarity.