Exotic Animals > Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee

Pan troglodytes

INTRODUCED FOR ZOO COLLECTIONS

DISTRIBUTION: Mainly Central Western Africa as well as Eastern Africa.

HABITAT: Found in tropical rainforests and open woodland.

BREEDING: The mother will only have one offspring at any one time. Gestation is around 250 days. The baby clings to the mothers belly. From 6 months to 2 years the juvenile travels on the back of the mother and weaning is at around 5 years of age.

FOOD: Plant material, ripe fruits, berries and insects such as termites. Nuts and eggs are also eaten when available. Occasionally meat is also consumed.

VOICE: excited barks and screams, and deep calls.

GENERAL: Chimpanzees are humans closest relatives sharing 98% of human DNA. Both sexes are covered in black-brown hair, and their faces are hairless and dark in colour. Chimpanzees live for about 40-50 years. An adult Chimpanzee is up to 8 times stronger that an adult human man. Chimpanzees are an endangered animal worldwide. They are a relic of New Zealand zoos, the NZCT and Willowbank are actively involved in re-homing them in Australia.


© New Zealand Conservation Trust 2006 - 2010, 60 Hussey Rd, Harewood, Christchurch Phone: +64 3 359 6226, Fax: +64 3 359 6212, Email: info@nzconservationtrust.org.nz		Privacy \| Disclaimer \| Site Map website by digitise