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Eastern Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii
0.48, 30.41
Field Notes
Description:
Chimpanzees, sometimes colloquially chimps, are an extant hominid species of apes in the genus Pan. There is a wonderful story connected to seeing these Chimps. I had been told repeatedly that I wouldn't be able to go Chimp tracking in the Kibale Forest, because of my ankle, so I opted for a nature walk. Towards the end of the walk we heard Chimp calls and pretty soon a whole family of chimps came out of the bush onto the path right in front of me. One sat down and groomed itself a meter from where I was standing. After going down the path for a while ( followed by me!) they went back into the forest on the opposite side.
Habitat:
The chimpanzee will spend time both in trees and on the ground, but will usually sleep in a tree where it will build a nest for the night out of leaves and folded branches.
Notes:
The 2007 IUCN Red List classified them as Endangered. Recent declines in East Africa are expected to continue due to hunting and loss of habitat. Also, because chimpanzees and humans are so physiologically similar, chimpanzees succumb to many diseases that afflict humans. If not properly managed, research and tourism also presents a risk of disease transmission between humans and chimpanzees.
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