Interesting Facts

• Fifty years ago,millions of chimps roamed the forests of Central Africa. Today it is estimated that fewer than 300,000 remain in the wild.
• The chimpanzee is not a monkey.  Chimpanzees are one of the four great ape species.  The other great ape species include orangutan, gorilla, and bonobo.
• Chimpanzees are the nearest relative to humans, sharing approximately 98% of our genetic blueprint. Highly intelligent, they are one of the few animal species to use and fashion tools.
• Unlike orangutans that are quite solitary, chimpanzees live in large social groups with as many as 20 to 100 individuals. The gestation of a chimpanzee is 7.5 months.  The infant will remain with its mother until it reaches 7 to 8 years of age.  
• Although chimpanzees spend a great deal of time on the ground, they build a nest each night in the trees of the rainforest. These nests are made with branches and leaves.