subject: What are chimpamzees? [print this page] What are chimpamzees? What are chimpamzees?
Do you want to know about chimps? And, are you interested in discovering what these animals are? Or would you like to have a safari to Uganda basically to see chimps? Well then the only chance is here but first, you are going to know what these human related animals are. Chimps are noisy and curious, intelligent and social; just like a human. For those of you, who are fascinated with chimps, be sure that they also think likewise.
These human related mammals have got long arms which enable them cling on trees, short legs with no tail. Their bodies are covered with black hair which warms them, the face,and ears are not covered.What are they indeed?
Habitat
Chimps are mainly found in rain forests and wet savannas. While they spend equal time on land and in trees, they do most of their feeding and sleeping in trees.
Behavior
Chimps live in loose communities which can number anywhere from 10 to over 100 individuals. The entire troop may never assemble all together, but they share a home range which is fiercely protected from intruders. Community members forage by themselves or in small groups that are all male, all female or mixed. Female chimpanzees emigrate when they reach adolescence. Since a community's female members are mostly unrelated they do not associate closely and are not even necessarily on friendly terms. Males, however, share blood ties and often cooperate. Mothers and male offspring also maintain ties that can last throughout their lives.
Chimps are incredibly vocal and use a complicated system of sounds to communicate with each other. They hoot, scream, grunt and drum on hollow trees with the flat of their hands, sometimes for hours. The discovery that chimpanzees used "tools" surprised the world. Their use of sticks to collect ants and termites from their nests and rocks to smash open nuts gave scientists proof that not only humans use cognitive thinking to problem-solve.
Chimps touch each other a great deal and may kiss when they meet. They also hold hands and groom each other. An adult chimp often has a special "friend" or companion with which it spends a lot of time. Female chimps give their young a great deal of attention and help each other with babysitting chores. Older chimps in the group are usually quite patient with energetic youngsters.
Diet
Chimps are diurnal (but often active on moonlit nights) and begin their activities at dawn. After descending from their night nests they hungrily feed on fruits, their principal diet, and on leaves, buds and blossoms. After a while their feeding becomes more selective, and they will choose only the ripest fruit. They usually pick fruit with their hands, but they eat berries and seeds directly off the stem with their lips. Their diet consists of up to 80 different plant foods.
