Population Characteristics
The chimpanzee population is widely distributed in countries along the equator including Gabon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon and many others. Their main habitat is the African rain forests, but due to their high adaptability chimpanzee may also thrive in African grasslands and woodlands. Unfortunately we continue to destroy these chimpanzee habitats in order to make room for our own living space and to gain profit (For more on this topic view our human influence page).
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Due to the lack of survey data in many regions of Africa many characteristics of the chimpanzee population can only be estimated. Extensive study and research on chimpanzees only occurs at a few specific sites—which include some conservation parks and research facilities—but provide indispensable discoveries about chimpanzee morphology, biology and culture. About fifty years ago the general chimpanzee population was estimated to be greater than 1,000,000 individuals, but recent studies estimate the current population to range from about 172,000 to 299,700 individuals. This drastic decrease in the general population can be attributed to the growth of the human population in these areas and the destruction of their habitats to make room for our own. To learn more about the dangers chimpanzees are facing and how to help click here.
Chimpanzees live in social communities ranging from 15 to 120 individuals. Similarly to other primates, these communities are fission-fusion societies that constantly change depending on the time of year as well as other environmental factors. Large groups may undergo fission to form smaller groups (i.e. when feeding and sleeping groups consist of fewer individuals) and these smaller groups may undergo fusion to form large groups (i.e. a female chimpanzee temporarily staying with her partner's parental group). These chimpanzee communities also have hierarchies in the form of an alpha male, who is regarded as the leader and strongest in the group. The alpha's success is largely dependent on the support of females and the alpha may be changed relatively often.
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Species Interactions
Humans (Homo Sapiens):
Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives sharing approximately 98% of our DNA. Despite this close connection, humans generally out-compete and threaten the survival of chimpanzees due to our deforestation of their habitats and poaching. Over the past few decades humans have pushed further into chimpanzee territory and have destroyed their habitat in order to make room for our own. The deforestation and clear-cutting occurring in many African regions have decreased the already limited available space for chimpanzees to live and prosper. Also the growth of the illegal bushmeat trade has led to the increased hunting and poaching and present a danger to the chimpanzee population. Our pursuit of more land and profit puts chimpanzees at a greater risk of extinction. |
Termites (Isoptera Termitoidae)
One of the main protein sources in nature for chimpanzees are termites. The chimpanzees have a peculiar strategy where they actually create tools to “fish” for termites. They strip a stick of its leaves and bark and put it down one of the termite mounds and the termites then grab on to the stick. They then pull the stuck out like a fishing rod and nibble up each individual termite and then repeat the process all over again. |
Leopard (Panthera pardus):
Leopards are considered to be the chimpanzees main predator because a great number of recorded chimpanzee deaths that were attributed to leopard predation. This can be supported through the studies of leopards at Tai and Lope National Parks where researchers observed the leopards' feeding patterns. When chimpanzees were confronted by predators such as the leopard they tended to react with loud screams to warn others of the threat and use any object available to defend themselves. There have also been a few documented cases of chimpanzees attacking leopard cubs preemptively, and was determined to be a protective effort in order to avoid future threat. |