Chimpanzee

The common chimpanzee is a species of ape found in equatorial Africa. Its preferred habitats include a range of forested areas, from evergreen rainforests and deciduous forests to dry savanna woodlands. Chimpanzees are omnivorous, feeding on fruits, leaves, tree bark, and insects, and they actively hunt for meat, primarily smaller vertebrates and other primate species. Highly intelligent and social, chimpanzees are considered the closest living relatives of humans. They form communities of both males and females, ranging from 5 to 150 individuals. Males remain in their natal community, establish a strictly linear hierarchy, and generally dominate the females in the group. During the females' estrus, marked by noticeable swellings of the external genitalia and buttocks, males may monopolize these females, isolating and protecting them from other males to ensure mating opportunities. Young chimpanzees rely on their mothers for a significant period, weaning around age 4 and reaching sexual maturity at approximately 11 years old. At this stage, young females typically disperse from their natal group.