6 Chimpanzee Facts For Kids

The chimpanzee might just be humanities closest relative in the animal kingdom. They have unique personalities, complex family structures, and the intelligence to be able to make and then use tools. It is estimated that there are just 200,000 chimpanzees left in the wild today. By knowing these facts about this unique creature, we can begin to understand them more and be able to do more to protect them.

1. They Are Omnivores

Chimpanzees eat plants and animals, which makes them an omnivore. Baby chimpanzees learn what is safe to and where to find food from their mothers. They also learn a lot of their own behaviors by observing their mothers and other close relatives.

2. Like a Kangaroo

Baby chimpanzees will cling to the belly of their mother as she traveled from place to place. Although there is no pouch or pocket for the baby chimpanzee to be, the process is a lot like what you find in kangaroos. This happens for the first few months of the baby chimpanzee’s life. Then it will continue to spend up to 10 years living with its mother to learn the basic components of life, including grooming and building nests in trees.

3. Walk Like a Man

Chimpanzees are one of the few animals that can stand up and walk upright on two legs. This isn’t their preferred method of walking, however, because they will normally walk on all fours using their knuckles. Chimpanzees also moved by screen from different branches throughout the forest to get where they want to be. They actually spend most of their time sleeping and eating up in a tree.

4. Human Sized

The average size of the chimpanzee is about the same as the average size of a human. Chimpanzees can weigh as much as 150 pounds on average and be a little over 5 feet tall. They also have a big wingspan, with many chimpanzees having a reach that is almost equal to their height. Despite the longer arms, chimpanzees cannot swim. They tend to employ a cooperative hunting approach.

5. Different Colors

The exposed skin of a chimpanzee can be one of several different colors. Many chimpanzees have a pinkish hue to their skin, but it can also be lighter or darker – even within the same family group. As the chimpanzee grows older, they will experience a darkening of their skin tones.

6. Captivity Increases Age

Chimpanzees are one of the few animals that have longer lifespans well in captivity. The difference is quite outstanding. The average lifespan of a chimpanzee in the wild is about 30 years. The average lifespan of a chimpanzee that is interactivity is about 60 years.

Chimpanzees fascinate us for a number of different reasons. Whether it is because they may be a close relative or because they have an intelligence level that seems to equal a human’s, by learning more about them, we can do more to understand what their needs happen to be.