Chimpanzee for Kids Ages 6-8

Chimpanzee

I am a chimpanzee from the forests of Africa. I live in a family called a community and talk using 'pant-hoots.' I am very smart and use tools, like a stick, to get termites to eat, a skill my mother taught me. On July 14th, 1960, a scientist named Jane Goodall came to study us and learned that we have families and feelings. Our home became a protected park in 1968. I help my ecosystem by spreading fruit seeds, which helps new trees grow.

First formal description by Western science c. 1699

Jane Goodall begins study at Gombe 1960

First observation of tool use 1960

The Forest Gardener

Hello! I am a chimpanzee, and I inhabit a variety of habitats across Africa, including tropical rainforests, montane forests, woodlands, and dry savannas. I don't live alone. I live with my big family, which we call a community. We love to talk to each other! We make loud 'pant-hoot' sounds that echo through the trees. It’s how we say hello and let everyone know where we are. My days are full of fun. I spend a lot of time climbing high up in the trees, swinging from branch to branch. When I come down to the ground, I walk on my feet and the knuckles of my hands. It's a special way of walking that helps me move easily on the forest floor.

I have very clever hands, and I know how to use them! My favorite foods are the juicy fruits and fresh leaves that grow all around me. But I have a secret for getting a special, yummy snack. My mom taught me how to be a tool user! When I'm hungry for termites, I find a long, thin stick. I carefully poke the stick into a termite mound, and when I pull it out, it's covered in delicious termites. It's a very smart trick! When I'm not looking for food, I love to play with my friends. We also help each other stay clean by grooming. We carefully pick through each other's fur, which is our way of showing that we care about one another.

One day, a special visitor came to our forest home. On July 14th, 1960, a kind woman named Jane Goodall arrived. At first, we were shy, but she was very quiet and patient. She initially observed us from a distance but gradually observed us from closer proximity as we became accustomed to her presence. She learned so much about us! She saw that we are smart animals who have feelings and live in large, multi-male and multi-female communities with complex social structures, where maternal bonds are strong but the community is not solely based on family units, just like people do. Because of her work, people understood how important we are. In 1968, the place where she studied us became a protected park, which meant we would always have a safe place to live.

I have a very important job in the forest. You could call me a forest gardener! When I eat delicious fruits, I travel all around my home. As I move, I drop the seeds on the ground in new places. From those seeds, new trees can grow! This helps keep the forest healthy and full of life. It is so important that our forest homes are protected. When our homes are safe, my family and I can keep planting seeds and helping our amazing forest thrive for many more years to come.