Chimpanzee Offspring Facts

Chimpanzees are amazing creatures, similar to humans in a number of ways, including communication, cooperation and even DNA. Though it has been attempted by some to tame them, chimpanzees do not make good pets. They are wild animals with no desire to be caged or live among humans.

  1. Gestation

    • Chimpanzees can reproduce by the time they are 13 years old. The female chimpanzee remains pregnant about as long as a human does (between 8 and 9 months).

    Time Frame

    • Chimpanzee offspring continue to be parented until they are about 7 years old.

    Dependence

    • Chimpanzee mothers and their dependent offspring are always together, the baby often hanging from its mother's back.

    Social Structure

    • When a dependent chimpanzee is orphaned, it is often taken in and raised by close family members.

    Fun Fact

    • According to the Jane Goodall Institute, chimpanzees share up to 98 percent of their DNA characteristics with humans, making chimps more similar to humans than they are to gorillas.