Where Do Chimpanzees Live
Chimpanzees are members of the great ape family. There are actually two living species of chimpanzees called the Common Chimpanzee and Bonobo. Both species are known for their high level of intelligence and were once used in many animal research projects for this reason. Chimps are of a similar size to humans, but are generally shorter and lighter. If you want to know where these magnificent apes live, keep reading to find out.
Where do chimpanzees live?
Although both chimpanzees can be found in Africa, the territory of the two species of Chimpanzees do not overlap. In fact, the Congo River separates the distribution of the two species. The common chimpanzee is found in sections of West and Central Africa, north of the Congo River. The Bonobo is only found south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The common chimpanzee is able to adapt to a wide variety of habitats including dry savannah, rainforest, swamp forest and dry woodlands. The Bonobo is less adaptable and is only found in the damp forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Deforestation of these habitats is a threat to both species of chimpanzees.
Did you know?
Chimpanzees are thought to have once had a much larger range in Africa. The most interesting discovery so far is chimpanzee fossils found as far away as Kenya (eastern Africa).
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