Chimpanzees live both in the rainforest and in savannah areas with some tree cover. Chimpanzees can climb better than gorillas, but not as well as orangutans and gibbons.

Chimpanzees eat fruit, seeds and leaves. Occasionally they hunt small mammals.

As with the other great apes, chimpanzees have cultural elements. Chimpanzees have different hunting methods in different regions. Chimpanzees use tools, for example to catch ants and termites. Different tools are used in different areas.

As with gorillas, sexually mature females change groups. Unlike the gorillas, all sexually mature males remain in the group. Within the group, there are constant scuffles and fights for a high position in the hierarchy.

The alpha male regards all females in the group as his herem. However, the other males and females sometimes see things differently. How strict or loose the harem structure is differs in different areas and also from group to group.

Due to the constant confrontations, living together is relatively stressful for chimpanzees.

The size difference between males and females is not as extreme as in orangutans and gorillas. In chimpanzees, physical strength alone does not determine the reproductive success of males. In addition to physical strength, a great deal of cleverness is required to achieve the alpha position.

Frans de Waal: The monkey in us – Why we are the way we are