Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda | Primates

Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda | Primates

Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda | Primates : These are species of great ape native to the forests and savanah of tropical Africa. Chimpanzees are more closely related to humans thus known as our relatives because they share 99% of our DNA. Primary threats to chimpanzees are habitat destruction, hunting as well as diseases. The increasing human population is encroaching ever deeper into even protected areas of chimpanzee habitats. In addition, the large-scale logging is a major threat to the forest primates of Africa.

Appearance and Physiology

The arms of a chimpanzee are longer than its legs, and can reach below the knees. Additionally, the hands have long fingers with short thumbs and flat fingernails. A chimpanzee’s head is rounded with a prominent and prognathous face. It has forward facing eyes, a small nose and rounded non-lobed ears. Furthermore, it has a long mobile upper lip and, in adult males, sharp canine teeth.

Chimpanzee bodies are covered by coarse hair, except for the face, fingers, toes, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The hair of a chimp is typically black or ginger as they grow older, white or grey patches may appear, particularly on the chin and lower region. The skin may range from pale to dark besides, females develop swelling pink skin when in oestrus. Adult males weigh between 40-60 kg (88-132lb) while females weigh between 27-50 kg (60-110lb).

Hunting

When hunting small monkeys such as the red colobus, chimpanzees hunt where the forest canopy is interrupted or irregular. This basically allows them to easily corner the monkeys when chasing them in the appropriate direction. Chimps may also hunt as a coordinated team, so that they can corner their prey even in a continuous canopy.  

Tool use

Nearly all chimpanzee populations have been recorded using tools. They modify sticks, rocks, grass and leaves and use them when foraging for honey, termites, ants, nuts and water. They also use stones to smash open tasty nuts and employ leaves as sponges to soak up drinking water.

Attacks

Common chimpanzees have attacked humans and in Uganda, several attacks on children have happened, some of them fatal. Some of these attacks may be due to the chimpanzees being intoxicated (from alcohol obtained from rural brewing operations). Thereby mistaking human children for the western red colobus, one of their favorite meals. Human interactions with chimpanzees may be especially dangerous if the chimpanzees perceive humans as potential rivals.

Status and conservation

They are also taken, often illegally, for the pet trade, and are hunted for medicinal purposes in some areas. Farmers sometimes kill chimpanzees that threaten their crops while others are unintentionally killed by snares meant for other animals. However, infectious diseases are a main cause of death for chimpanzees. Additionally, they succumb to many diseases that afflict humans because the two species are so similar. As human populations grow, so does the risk of disease transmission between humans and chimpanzees.

Communication

Chimpanzees use facial expressions, postures and sounds to communicate with each other. They also have expressive faces which are important in close-up communications. When frightened a “full closed grin” causes nearby individuals to be fearful as well. While traveling, they keep in contact by beating their hands and feet against the trunks of large trees. In fact this act is known as “drumming” which is also used when encountering individuals from other communities.

Mating and parenting

They basically mate throughout the year, although the number of females in oestrus varies seasonally in a group. Note that; their gestation period is about eight months. Females will reach reproductive maturity by age of 13 and usually gives birth to one baby. Care for the young is provided mostly by their mothers whereby they provide their young with food.

They also provide them with warmth and protection, and teach them certain skills. Newborn chimps are helpless whereby their grasping reflex is not strong enough to support them for more than a few seconds. During their first 30 days, infants cling to their mother’s bellies since they are unable to support their own weight. When they reach five to six months, they ride on their mothers’ backs. By three years, infants move further away from their mothers. 

Behavior

At the core of social structures are males, which roam around, protect group members, and search for food. Males remain in their natal communities while females generally emigrate at adolescence. In fact, males in a community are more likely to be related to one another than females. Common chimpanzees live in communities that typically range from 20 to more than 150 members. However, spend most of their time traveling in small, temporary groups consisting of a few individuals. These generally may consist of any combination of age and sex classes. Although they normally walk on all fours (knuckle-walking) they can stand and walk upright.

Mortality and health

Chimpanzees may react to a leopard’s presence with loud vocalizing, branch shaking and throwing objects. The average lifespan of a chimpanzee is usually less than 15 years. Besides, individuals may live over 27 years and occasionally over 60. Captive chimps live longer with median lifespans of 31.7 years for males and 38.7 years for females.

Diet

It prefers fruits to other food items but also eats leaves. Others include; leaf buds, seeds, blossoms, stems, pith, bark and resin. Female chimpanzee appears to consume much less animal flesh than males, according to several studies. When fruit is abundant, gorilla and chimp diets converge but diverge when fruit is scarce. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long do chimpanzees live?

A recent study indicates that the average lifespan of a chimpanzee is around 38 to 40 years. In captivity a female can live up to 39 years old while a male can live up to 32 years old.

What do chimpanzees eat?

These animals are omnivorous, but also eat fruit more than anything else. Most of a chimpanzee’s diet comes from our bits of plants (seeds, leaves, roots, resin etc). However, they will also eat insects, honey, birds and bird eggs, mammals and even soil.

Where do chimpanzees live?

As a highly adaptable species, chimpanzees inhabit a range of habitats. These include; tropical rain forest, montane rain forests, swap forests, less densely vegetated forest-savannah mosaics, etc.

Where can you find Chimpanzees in Uganda?

In Uganda you can track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. We also have chimps in Ngamba Island Sanctuary which is a home of orphaned chimpanzees.

How strong are chimpanzees?

Chimpanzees are enormously strong, estimated to be around four times stronger than a human of a similar size. They can as well reach speeds of 25mph (40kph) when running. Their arms are designed to swing them through the trees. This is because they have a much higher proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which seems to be what gives them extraordinary strength.

Do chimpanzees live in groups?

The chimpanzees live in groups which range in size from 15 to 150 members. Chimpanzees live in fission-fusion societies, meaning that the size and composition of their social groups changes over time. They spend the majority of their time in small temporary groups of just a few individuals known as ‘parties’. But also associate with a wider group known as a ‘community’.

Can chimpanzee use tools?

These are one of the few animals that are known to use tools. This includes; the use of sticks to retrieve termites from their mounds. stones to open up appetizing nut contents and leaf-sponges to soak up drinking water.

Can chimpanzees communicate?

Generally, chimps make around 30 different vocalizations. The most common and loudest is the pant-hoot, a long-distance call used for a variety of social reasons. In addition, used particularly for keeping in touch with fellow troop members.

When do chimps reproduce?

As a matter of fact, a chimpanzee has a gestation period of eight months. The infant is weaned at about three years old. But usually maintains a close relationship with its mother for several years more. Females will reach reproductive maturity by age 13 and can give birth at any time of the year. These animals exhibit large pink sexual swellings on their behinds which advertise their fertility to prospective mates. They usually give birth to just one infant and once born the infant will cling tightly to its mother’s fur. This is done during their first 30 days, and then take rides on her back until two years of age.

Can chimps walk on two legs?

Chimpanzees get around by climbing and swinging through trees and by walking on all fours (knuckles-walking) although they can also walk upright on two feet if they want to.

How clever are chimpanzees?

Besides using tools, some chimpanzees have been able to learn basic human sign language.

Chimpanzee tracking places in Uganda

Kibale National Park  

The Park is favored for chimpanzee tracking and nature walks not only due to its endowment with wildlife but also its relatively flat terrain that is easy to trek. The Park is also well optimized for trekking with well laid out trail networks.

Kyambura Gorge Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Gorge is renowned for its primate population and the only place with habituated chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other notable primates one can also view in here include; red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus, baboons and vervet monkeys.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Not only provides a safe haven for these vulnerable chimpanzees but also created an opportunity for a memorable chimpanzee experience. The Island is now open for visitors all year around and has now become one of the must-visit adventure destinations in Uganda. This is for those especially seeking a quick but satisfactory chimpanzee experience. It’s a perfect alternative to the strenuous but more adventurous chimpanzee tracking are in the big game parks and reserves.

Chimpanzee tracking rules

• Chimpanzees can catch your diseases therefore you must not enter the forest if you are sick.
• Do not leave litter in the forest.
• If you need to urinate or defecate, do so off the trail. Bury your waste in a hole (30cm deep) along with any toilet paper.
• Keep as quite as possible in the forest, you will see more.
• Keep at least 8 meters (25 feet) from the chimpanzees at all times.
• Do not mimic chimpanzee’s vocalization (you do not know what you might be saying!)
• Do not eat near the chimpanzees.
• Do not chase the chimpanzees.
• Do not use flash photography.