Did you know that female chimpanzees will usually only have a baby every 5-6 years. This could create a huge problem, as numbers decline the remaining wild populations of chimpanzees cannot reproduce fast enough to replace their dwindling numbers. In the process they may also obtain a baby to sell on the black market. People hunt wild animals such as chimpanzee to consume and sell their meat. In West Africa it is estimated that 90% of the original rainforest has been wiped out and with Africa’s deforestation rate being twice that of the rest of the world’s rate, is it any wonder that species are under threat on this continent?īush meat is also a growing threat against great apes in Africa. This in turn is leaving less and less food for them to eat as well as less space for them to thrive in. Trees are cut to make room for human growth and development leaving less and less space for animals. If you watch the film ‘Jane’, which is a biographical documentary about Jane Goodall, you will see that whilst she was conducting her study the group of chimps she was looking at developed polio, a human disease, which claimed the life of one of the chimps.ĭeforestation is a major threat for all wildlife. Diseases that can be spread between humans can also be spread to chimpanzees.Īs their natural habitat shrinks because of human development they are coming into contact with more and more human diseases. There are many threats that face chimpanzees in the wild, one of these is disease.

What are the issues that are causing chimpanzees numbers to drop in the wild?Ĭhimp numbers have dropped from around 1 million in the 1900’s to between 172,700 & 299,700 today, causing them to be listed as Endangered on the IUCN red list. If you watch Elizabeth you can see that her mouth is wide open and relaxed, this is her laughing. Did you know that chimpanzees are ticklish and will laugh when playing? In this video you can see Elizabeth and Elvira having a play session. We come from the same family tree:īeing so closely related we share a lot of similar characteristics including tool making and use, social structures and communication. She also visited Wingham Wildlife Park back in 2016 to look at our Chimpanzee exhibit before they arrived.ĭr Jane Goodall visiting Wingham Wildlife Park Dr Jane Goodall visiting Wingham Wildlife Park.Ĭhimpanzees are our closest living relative in the animal kingdom, sharing 96% of our DNA. She has received numerous awards for her environmental and humanitarian work including being named United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2002, a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2003 and named as one of Time magazines 100 most influential people in World 2019.

She is a world renowned primatologist and anthropologist and considered the world leading expert on chimpanzees. You may have heard of Dr Jane Goodall, but if you haven’t here is a little bit about her. This led to a study spanning over 55 years on the social and family interactions of wild chimps. The 14 th July, 1960 is the date a young woman called Jane Goodall first stepped foot into what is now Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, to study wild chimpanzees. So why is World Chimpanzee Day held on this date? My blog this week is in celebration of World Chimpanzee Day which is on the 14 th July (this also happens to be Fritz’s birthday so it’s a double celebration).

Jane goodall chimpanzee attack