Our closest cousins, the chimpanzees shares the least 94% of its DNA with humans. These great apes are sociable, communicative and intelligent. One of the chimp’s most astonishing traits is its ability to use tools such as rocks, smashing nuts, empty pods for scooping water and sticks for drawig termites from their nests.
As these skills are passed from generation, it has been observed that different troops are specialists in different tasks, depending on their habitat and diet.
Chimpanzees live in communities containing from 10 to 100 members. They hold hands, kiss, groom each others’ offspring – young chimps do not become independent untill the age of four.
Chimpanzees can also be aggressive and unfriendly, particularly towards unrelated individuals. Though thy spend a lot of time on the ground, chimpanzees usually eat and sleep in trees. Their varied diet includes leaves, flowers and seeds.
Places Where to See Chimpanzees in Uganda
- Kibale Forest National Park (Western Uganda)
- Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Western Uganda)
- Kalinzu Forest Reserve in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Budongo Forest, Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro Ecotourism Site in Murchison Falls National Park
- Ngamba Island – an exsitu conservation area managed by the Jane Goodall Institute
- Uganda Wildlife Education Center (formely called the Entebbe Zoo) in Entebbe.