Chimpanzees
Pan troglodytes
Facts
- Height: 39-54 inches
- Weight: 71-130 pounds
- Life span: 50+ years
- Habitat: Congo Basin, Africa
- Very social
- Spend their days in the trees
- Mostly walk on all fours
- Can walk up right for a short time
- Can use tools
- Endangered
Bonobos
Pan paniscus
Facts
- Height: 28-35 inches
- Weight: 68-86 pounds
- Life Span: 40 years
- Habitat: South of the Congo River, Africa
- Led by females
- More peaceful
- Settle conflicts with sex
- Will fight another group as defense
- Endangered
Threats
Chimps and bonobos are both listed as endangered according to the Wold Wildlife Foundation and face several threats in the wild. Habitat loss is one of the biggest that these creatures face. Their homes are being torn down to make room for farm land and human development. Illegal hunting and the pet trade are driving numbers down as well. Hunters will kill adults for their meat and then trade the infants on the black market.
Human disease is another issue facing our close relatives. When humans come into contact with them, diseases can be transmitted and the primates do not have the immune system to fight off human diseases.
Why protect them?
Chimpanzees and bonobos share a lot of DNA with humans. 99% is the number most scientists will give to the amount of shared DNA humans have with chimps and just slightly lower for bonobos. This is extremely important for research into diseases, evolution, and other aspects of human life. With these animals around we have a link to human history.
Both species also live in diverse habitats. When we protect the large fauna of an area, then we also are protecting smaller and unknown animals and plants. Protecting chimps and bonobos means protecting a lot more.
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Species Spotlights 