Chimpanzee Observation

In the Article “The 2% Difference” by Robert Sapolsky explains that scientists have decoded the chimpanzee genome to discover 98 percent of human DNA is similar. In Sapolsky article he goes on to explain the two percent difference humans and chimpanzee. A few of his discovered was that “Chimps excel at climbing trees, but we beat them hands down at balance-beam routine; they are covered in hair, while we have only the occasional guy with really hair shoulders” (Angeloni pp.40 2016). Physically we look different and can do different physical activities then chimpanzee. Sapolsky continues by saying how we have differences in social behavior. It is known

Chimps and gorillas look very different. Such as size and weight. The only thing that hey have in common is the same colors but some of the markings are different. Adult male gorillas have a silver back and all gorillas can weigh up to 600lbs and grow to 6ft tall. But chimps only weigh 120 lbs and and grow to 4ft

“Bonobos are more comfortable walking upright than chimpanzees are. They also keep their white rump patch for life, while the patch darkens with age on chimpanzees, (San Diego Zoo, 2018). They can move quadrupedally by knuckle-walking just like gorillas but on the ground but a bonobo can walk bipedally just as humans can. “Bonobos and chimpanzees look very similar and both share 98.7% of their DNA with humans—making the two species our closest living relatives. Bonobos are usually a bit smaller, leaner and darker than [the common] chimpanzees,” (World Wildlife Fund, 2018). An easy way to distinguish one is by their hairless black faces, red lips, and parted long hair, all features that are almost human

Many attributes found in humans are also found in chimps. Similar to humans, chimps have long childhoods which involve long term affection, bonds and learning. Like humans, chimps display nonverbal communication through Kissing, holding hands and fist shaking. They also show emotion and personality which is thought to be a human attribute (Goodall, 2002). They say we are only 4% smarter than chimps, what defines smart? If we are so smart, why are we destroying our planet? Chimps have been doing the same thing for millions of years without damaging their environment. Maybe we should not ask who is smarter, but who is wiser.

Violence happens often within the community, whether over petty differences such as stealing food from another or challenging a dominant chimp, but it never lasts long, as the chimpanzees are quick to reassure one another with grooming and hand holding, kissing foreheads or embracing each other. Grooming is another aspect of chimpanzee society that is extremely important to their lifestyle, and can happen up to hundreds of times a day throughout chimp communities. Chimpanzees will often groom each other out of submission, reassurance, happiness or even boredom. Newborns are almost never allowed to be groomed by anyone other than the mother, but as they grow older, children often partake in this ceremony that also could be considered a part of chimp culture instead of necessity. Additionally, grooming and being groomed tie into the hierarchy, as the dominant male or female often allow a grooming session to take place as a sign of forgiveness or submission. Chimpanzees are not lonely animals, and will frequently seek each others company for group grooming sessions, or do activities together. Hunting is a common sport that chimpanzees often use teamwork

Bonobos and Chimpanzee are easily confused and compared to all the time but the two are very different from each other. Bonobos have black hair that comes down the center of their heads, and covering part of their ears. Bonobos have smaller a head and ears. Their face is flat and their brow ridge isn’t as so noticeable.

Many people think chimpanzees are a monkey and they don't know what the difference between monkey and apes are. Actually, bonobo and chimpanzees are apes and have similarity genetic code with a human. However, gorillas also share same genetic to human and they mostly have similar behaviors like a human, like eat food, move, or shape like hands. The author Kristina Cawthon Lang “National Primate Research Center in Wisconsin” talked about what is the difference of the behaviors between a gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo. The author Lewis, R B, Robert Jurmain and Lynn Kilgore talked in the book “Understanding Humans: Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology” about many kinds of apes and monkeys, and also what is different between of them.

The muscular and skeletal structure that chimps possess also poses a major difference between the species. Perhaps the trademark for Homo sapiens is the fact that we are bipedal. Human ancestors lived in an environment that allowed the benefits of walking on two legs to outweigh the risks, where as the chimpanzees did not. Also, probably for a similar reason, chimpanzees remained much stronger than any modern human. Though our muscular structure is comparable at first glance, the more robust attachment points allow for chimps to carry out tasks with ease where a human would be performing strenuous

The link between chimpanzees and us is closer than I imagined, separated by 6 million years and only 1.2% of DNA. Interesting aspects of the documentary were the aspects on what makes us human, and the conclusions reached from the multiple experiments ran to find the similarities and differences between chimps and us.

Primates, especially Chimpanzee 's, are one of the closest relatives to Homo sapiens on planet Earth today. With the development of zoos in modern society, the observation of these animals has become a relatively easy task and have allowed for humans to observe their actions and behaviors in close proximity and in an in-depth manner. I have been to numerous zoos throughout my lifetime and have viewed all sorts of different primates and in particular chimpanzee 's. Chimpanzees are highly interesting as they are closely related to humans and many of their behaviors are similar to that of humans yet, they are taken out of their natural environments and put in these so called zoo 's. Over my time viewing these animals from previous trips to the zoo, it seems that every time I went to the Chimpanzee exhibit there was less excitement than anticipated and the Chimp 's seemed to very relaxed and essentially just sat or laid around for hours upon hours. After taking this into consideration, I wanted to test the reasons for this relaxed state and answer the question of why the Chimpanzee 's seem so relaxed and somewhat docile when in captivity? Why are they so relaxed around the hundreds of zoo goers that go in and out of the zoo every day? Do they not view them as a threat? These questions helped me form my hypothesis of if a chimpanzee is in captivity it will have a more relaxed nature than it being in its own natural habitat due to having no predators and scheduled feeding times.

Chimpanzees can live up to 50 years in care but they must live with their mother for the first five years before they can be bought for a pet; they can weigh up to 150 pounds. They are omnivores like us but mostly eat on fruits but owners will sometime feed them what they are eating. Chimpanzees are twice as strong as humans so they will need to a sturdy place to stay and very strong so when there frustrated they can`t break out. When Chimpanzee turn the sexual maturity age you may experience problems with aggression or biting or even attacks because it is in the chimpanzee nature to climb to ladder of hierarchy. As adults if they can no longer live with humans they cannot go straight back in the life with apes since they did not get the proper

Chimps and monkeys are very similar animals, yet they are also very different. Chimpanzees are considered great apes. Great Apes tend to generaly have bigger brains and bodies than monkeys. Chimps are more related to humans then monkeys They are similar when it comes to being primates. Today we will be discussing both chimpanzees and monkeys as pets. Although, we will mostly be talking about monkeys!


Humans and non-human primates have many behaviors and characteristics in common. Apes and chimpanzees have been studies and closely watched for many years. Scientist and researchers and found many similarities between the apes and chimpanzees with humans. All three are hard working and work with tools. They also make these tools. Another similarity is the fact that they are very social with others of their breed. This is also true about other primates other than apes and chimpanzees, like lemurs, lorises, pottos, and tarsiers. Apes and chimpanzees are able to learn sign language and elementary math skills. All primates have nails instead of claws on their fingers and toes. Both non-human primates and humans all have opposable thumbs. They use these thumbs to be able to pick up things better and they are thumbs that are able to move and touch other parts of the same hand. Non-human primates, including humans, learn by watching their mothers and other family members. For example, chimpanzees learn to make stick tools to stick into holes to get termites to eat. They do this because the mothers never teach them

According to National Geographic, scientists have sequenced the genome factor of the chimpanzee and found that humans are 98.5% similar to the ape species. The chimpanzee is our closest relative in the animal kingdom; however, some people are not aware of our resembling traits with chimpanzees. Jane Goodall’s, In the Shadow of Man, describes some similar traits humans and chimpanzees have such as their facial expressions and emotions, use of tools, and diet.

Chimpanzees are a genus of the great ape of Africa, with long black hair and log protruding ears. Humans know them for their intelligence and there very similarities. They have developed family ties similar to man. Over the generations they have even had developed tools out of natural materials. Food for chimpanzees is very important to them due to the excessive amount eating.