Scientific Name:
Pan troglodytes
Distribution
In 21 countries of western and central Africa
Diet:
Omnivore. Fruits, leaves, stems, seeds, flowers, bark, honey, mushrooms, resin, eggs, and animal prey such as insects and medium-sized mammals (mainly primates).
Facts
Habitat: Tropical rainforest, woodland savanna
Dimensions: males 77-96cm, females 70-91cm
Weight: males 28-70kg, females 20-50kg
Gestation: 230 days, 1-2 young
Lifespan: 40-50
Social structure: Multi-sex groups of around 35 animals (max 150) with one dominant male.
Estimated population in the wild: 172,000-299,700
IUCN Status: Endangered
Threats: Habitat destruction and degradation (conversion to agriculture, logging, oil and gas mining), poaching (for meat, pet trade, medicinal purposes, snares, crop-protection), human diseases.
Did you know that:
- They are apes and not monkeys. They are more closely related to humans (with a 1.2% difference in DNA) than they are to gorillas!
- They have a better short term memory than humans and use basic tools.
- Every night they build sleeping nests 9-12m high up in trees.