Chimpanzee

At the Detroit Zoo
The Great Apes of Harambee –located in the African Forest – houses 11 chimpanzees, including Akira, an adorable female born in July 2011.  Akira is the second baby born to mother Akati and father Imara in three years; her brother, Ajua, was born in September 2008. The Great Apes of Harambee is a 4-acre habitat that also houses western lowland gorillas and drills.  The primates spend their days foraging, grooming and playing, just as they would in their native
African environment.

Description
The chimpanzee has long black or brown hair covering its body, but has no hair on its face, ears, hands or feet. It has pink skin at birth but, as it grows, the skin turns black. The chimpanzee has opposable thumbs, fingernails and toenails, just like humans. Its small face has a defined brow, small nostrils and a small muzzle.

Scientific name: Pan troglodytes
Continent: Africa
Habitat: Grasslands, rainforests and woodlands
Size: 3-4 feet tall
Weight: 70-130 pounds
Diet: The chimpanzee is an omnivore and eats insects, fruits, plants, eggs and various meats.
Reproduction: Gestation eight months; one or two offspring
Lifespan: 32-39 years
Conservation Status: Endangered

FUN FACTS

The chimpanzee shares more than 98 percent of the same genetic material with humans, making it our closest living relative.

The chimpanzee is one of the few animal species that makes and uses tools. Examples include using sticks to catch insects and stones to crack open nuts.

Chimpanzees live in large groups called communities.