We’re chatting about chimps!

We’re chatting about chimps!

We’re continuing our APE-ril celebrations today with another great ape! We’re off to Africa again to find the Bonobo chimp. Once called the pygmy chimp, these relatives of the common chimpanzee do not get the press that their relatives do. They have some interesting differences! Let’s learn more about them!

• Bonobos live in Central Africa in humid forests.
• They are omnivores. Most of their diet is fruit, but they also eat bugs, eggs and honey.
• Bonobos are listed by the IUCN as endangered.
• Bonobos and their cousin the common chimpanzee are the closest living relative to humans on earth. They share about 98% of their DNA with humans.
• Bonobos are highly intelligent. They are bonobos that have learned sign language and language using a board with symbols.
• They are known to walk on two legs and can do so for farther distances than the common chimpanzee.

• Bonobos are also known for their emotional expression and vocalizations.
• They are highly social animals that bond with each other in their family groups.
• Bonobos have red lips. This is one way to identify them from their cousins the chimpanzee.

Bonobos are amazing apes! They are fascinating! We highly recommend checking out the Bonobo Conservation Initiative and the writings Frans De Waal to learn more about these relatives of you human apes!