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Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), our closest living relatives sharing 98.7% of human DNA, are intelligent primates found in the forests and savannas of Central and West Africa, from Senegal to Tanzania. They stand 3–4.5 feet tall, weigh 70–130 pounds, with males larger than females, and have dark fur that grays with age. Their social groups, called communities, range from 20–150 individuals, led by an alpha male who maintains order through displays like charging or throwing rocks. Omnivores, they eat fruits, leaves, bark, insects, and occasionally small mammals like bushbabies, hunting in coordinated groups—males lead hunts, using teamwork to corner prey.

Chimps are tool-users, crafting sticks to fish termites or rocks to crack nuts, and show cultural behaviors, like unique grooming styles per group. They communicate with hoots, screams, pant-grunts, and facial expressions, plus gestures like hand-clasping. Females give birth to one infant every 5–6 years after an 8-month gestation; young cling to moms for 3–5 years, reaching maturity at 13–15. Lifespan is 40–50 years in the wild.

Listed as Endangered by the IUCN, their population (170,000–300,000) faces threats from deforestation, poaching for bushmeat, and disease like Ebola, which can wipe out entire communities. Conservation efforts, like sanctuaries in Uganda and anti-poaching patrols, aim to protect them, but habitat loss from logging and mining persists. Their intelligence—solving puzzles and showing empathy—combined with complex social drama, makes them nature’s masterminds.