Western chimpanzee

Pan troglodytes verus

Irish Name: Simpeansaí
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Western chimpanzees are one of the four subspecies of the common chimpanzee. They are similar in size to a human and have a coat of black hair. Chimpanzees have long arms, hands, and fingers, which help them climb trees and swing from branch to branch.

Western chimpanzee

Pan troglodytes verus

Irish Name: Simpeansaí
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Western chimpanzees are one of the four subspecies of the common chimpanzee. They are similar in size to a human and have a coat of black hair. Chimpanzees have long arms, hands, and fingers, which help them climb trees and swing from branch to branch.

General Information

Where do they live? (Natural habitat)

Western chimpanzees live in a range of West African forest habitats including lowland tropical forests, mountainous forests and swamp forests.

How long do they live?

Up to 40-50 years in the wild, and more than 60 years in zoos.

What do they eat?

Western chimpanzees are omnivores. They mainly eat fruit, leaves, seeds and flowers, but also feed on insects and honey.

Group name

Community

Zoo location

African Plains, beside the Gorilla Rainforest.

Closest related species / sister species

The western chimpanzee’s closest relatives are the other three subspecies of the common chimpanzee, these are the eastern chimpanzee, central chimpanzee and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee.

Animal class

Mammalia

Animal order

Primates

Fun facts

Our closest living relatives

Chimpanzees share over 98% of their genetic material with humans, and along with bonobos, are our closest living relatives. Humans and chimps are believed to share a common ancestor who lived 7 to 13 million years ago.

Tools

Chimpanzees are one of the few species we know to use tools. Different groups of chimpanzees use tools in different ways including using sticks to retrieve termites from their mounds and dig insects out of logs. They also use stones to open nuts, and leaves to scoop up drinking water.

Pharmacists

Zoopharmacognosy is the name given a type of ‘animal self-medication’, referring to the phenomenon of animal species knowing the things in their natural environment they can eat to prevent disease, kill viruses or aid digestion. An example of this with chimpanzees is when they eat the bitter Vernonia plant, a plant species known to have medicinal benefits. Because of the bitter taste of the plant the chimpanzees’ grimace when they are eating it, it is thought that it is eaten mostly for medicinal reasons rather than taste.

Seed dispersal

Chimpanzees play an important role in their environment as seed dispersers. When they eat fruit, they spread the seeds of that fruit through their poo. The seeds then grow into trees in other locations, leading to a healthier tree population. Chimpanzees are capable of eating much larger seeds than most animals in their ecosystem, so many plant species depend on large animals such as chimps to spread their seeds.

Don't smile...

Chimpanzees use facial expressions to show emotions, but a human smile that shows all your teeth is seen as a threatening expression to chimpanzees.

Reflections

Chimpanzees are one of the few species that can recognise themselves in a mirror.

Communication

A chimpanzee will sometimes hug, pat or brush the face of another chimpanzee to try to reassure them or calm them down. They have a range of vocalisations including barks, hoots and grunts. One well-known chimpanzee vocalisation is called the ‘pant-hoot’. It is believed that each individual has his or her own distinctive pant-hoot, so that they can be easily identified.

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Family Life

Chimpanzees are highly social animals. Western chimpanzees live in groups that range in size from 11 to 63 individuals. Each community has a home range that they defend from outsiders. These groups are hierarchical with a dominant male. They can communicate with a range of vocalisations and facial expressions, and maintain friendships by grooming each other.

Baby name

Infant

Gestation (pregnancy) period

7 to 8 months

Number of young at birth

1

Weight at birth

Approximately 2 kg

Age at maturity

Females reach maturity between 12 and 14 years old, and males at 15 years old. When a female is ready to mate, the skin around her bottom swells up and turns pink.

Size male adult

Males can be up to 77 – 96 cm in length and can weigh 40 – 60 kg.

Size female adult

Females are slightly smaller and can measure 68 - 91 cm in length and typically weigh 45 – 55 kg.

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Conservation

IUCN status

The western chimpanzee is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Current population estimate

Approximately 53,000

Threats

The main threats to western chimpanzees are poaching for the illegal bushmeat, pet trade and the destruction of their rainforest habitat due to logging, mining and agriculture. They are also susceptible to diseases such as Ebola virus.

What is Dublin Zoo doing?

Since 2009, Dublin Zoo has worked with the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone which rehabilitates rescued chimpanzees and is involved in community outreach programmes, wildlife monitoring and promoting responsible tourism. Dublin Zoo also participates in the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme for western chimpanzees.

Wild Behaviour at Dublin Zoo
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Chimpanzee Conservation

See what Dublin Zoo is doing to help chimpanzees in the wild
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FAQs

  • What do chimpanzees eat?

    Western chimpanzees are omnivores. The mainly eat fruit, leaves, seeds and flowers, but also feed on insects and honey.

  • Are chimpanzees endangered?

    Yes, western chimpanzees are classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

  • When did chimpanzees first appear?

    Research suggests that human ancestors and the ancestors of modern chimpanzees split genetically approximately 5-8 million years ago. Humans are not evolved from chimpanzees, but instead, they have a common ancestor and are closely related.

  • Where do western chimpanzees live?

    Western chimpanzees live in a range of West African forest habitats including lowland tropical forests, mountainous forests and swamp forests.

  • What are chimp's predators?

    The chimpanzee’s greatest natural predators are leopards and lions, however, their greatest threat is humans.

  • When did chimpanzees become endangered?

    The IUCN first classified chimpanzees as Vulnerable in 1986. This changed to Endangered in 1996. As of 2016, western chimpanzees are classified as Critically Endangered.

  • When were chimpanzees first discovered?

    Many African cultures lived near chimpanzees for thousands of years. Europeans first encountered chimpanzees during the 17th century and soon after, they began to be taken back to Europe as gifts. The name “chimpanzee” was first recorded during the 1700s, originating from a local Angolan term for ‘mock man’.

  • In which part of the rainforest does the Western chimpanzee live?

    Western chimpanzees spend time on the ground, where they generally walk on all fours (knuckle-walking), but can also stand and walk upright. They also spend time in the trees, mainly when searching for food. They build tree nests to sleep in every night.

  • Who dominates in chimpanzee social groups?

    A chimp community is dominated by an alpha male. Male chimpanzees are known to show their dominance using power displays: they scream, stamp their feet, throw rocks, and their hair stands on end so they look bigger. This may scare other chimpanzees and keep them from picking a fight. The females also have a hierarchical order.

  • How do we know that chimpanzees are highly intelligent?

    Research and scientific observations of chimpanzees has shown that many primates including chimpanzees are highly intelligent. This is evidenced by their use of tools, complex communication systems and patterns of behaviour.

  • Why are western chimpanzees endangered?

    In 2016, the conservation status of western chimpanzees changed from Endangered to Critically Endangered due to increased threats to this subspecies. These threats include poaching for the illegal bushmeat, pet trade and the destruction of their rainforest habitat due to logging, mining and agriculture. They are also susceptible to diseases such as Ebola virus.

  • Are chimpanzees monkeys?

    Chimpanzees are primates – a group that includes monkeys and apes – but they are great apes, not monkeys. One of the main physical differences between monkeys and apes is that most monkeys have tails but apes do not.

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