They are quick and fast climbers hence they build their nests high in the trees and these nests are constructed by bending tree branches, lining tree edges with twigs and forming a platform.Ĭhimpanzees are omnivorous creatures in that they feed on plants, fruits, leaves, buds, blossoms, flowers, seeds, insects, hunting small mammals like monkeys, bushbucks among others. They also have a gestation period of about 8 months, give birth every 4 to 5 years and give birth to one baby which will stay with its mother until about 3 years of age. Chimpanzees become sexually mature at the age of 8 to 12 years of age, female chimpanzees experience an estrus cycle of about 34 to 35 days and during this period they experience body changes for example the skin on the bottom become pink, bare and swollen. Chimpanzees live in groups of 30 to 80 individuals and the groups are made up of males, females, young ones and they have a life span of 50 years in the wild and up to 60 years in captivity. The male chimpanzees weigh around 150 pounds while the females weigh around 110 to 115 pounds. A large number of chimpanzees in Rwanda have been habituated which means that they are used to human presence therefore available for trekking on daily basis.Ĭhimpanzees have a body covered with long black hair, have long arms and hands which enable them to pick up objects, short legs with no tail. There are over 1000 chimpanzees that are found in Rwanda and they can be viewed in Nyungwe national park. Chimpanzees may also help with the dispersal of seeds of certain plants, through transportation, or by eating the fruit.Facts about Chimpanzees in Rwanda: Chimpanzees are primates that share 98 percent of humans DNA which makes them close relatives to human beings. They have a large impact on the Red colobus monkey, bush pigs, and baboons by predating them. Overall, currently, Common chimpanzees are classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and their numbers today are decreasing.Ĭhimpanzees, as predators, may have a role in controlling the populations of their prey. Four subspecies of the Common chimpanzee have been recognized and current estimates for each subspecies are following: Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee - fewer than 6,000-9,000, Eastern chimpanzee - 181,000-256,000, Central chimpanzee - 140,000, Western chimpanzee - 18,000-65,000. Adults are killed for bushmeat so that the poacher can take young chimpanzees to sell as pets.Īccording to IUCN Red List, as of 2003, the total Common chimpanzee population size was estimated to be 172,700–299,700 apes. The illegal exotic pet trade provides incentives to poachers to hunt chimpanzees. Its biggest threats come from habitat destruction, disease, and poaching. The chimpanzee is on the IUCN list as being endangered in its natural habitat. Females at 13 years of age are thought to be ready to reproduce, while males reach sexual maturity at about 16 years old. Playing with other young chimpanzees allows them to practice grooming as well as wrestling skills. They learn survival skills by observing their mother to find out what to eat, how to build nests, and make tools. They are weaned at the age of 4 to 6 years. At two years old, young chimpanzees are able to sit independently and move about. The mother and her baby remain in continual contact during their first year. Gestation lasts for about 8 months and then a single infant is born. There is no clear breeding season for chimpanzees, and mating can take place at any time of the year, with babies born in any season. In addition, females sometimes leave their community and mate with males from neighboring communities. A male and female can form a consortship and mate outside their community. Chimpanzees have a polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system in which males and females mate with several mates in their community.
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