PRIMATES AT AFRICA ALIVE!

CHIMPANZEE

Pan troglodytes

Living in the tropical forests and woodlands of Africa, chimpanzees avoid attacks from predators such as hyaenas and leopards by climbing trees. At night each adult chimpanzee builds a nest of vegetation in a tree.

Only one baby is born which is completely dependent on its mother for the first two years of its life. The chimpanzee is omnivorous; that is to say it eats both plants and animal matter. It sometimes catches and kills other small mammals and monkeys. Chimpanzees are especially fond of bananas, paw-paw and wild figs and they also eat insects, leaves and roots.

Chimpanzees are the best users of tools in the non-human animal world, they use sticks to extract honey, ants and termites from nests. Stones are also used as tools to crack open nuts and also to throw at enemies.

The continued destruction of forest by logging companies, hunting of chimpanzees for meat and the illegal pet trade are all threats to this species. Its reproductive rate is low; therefore, it is endangered in the wild. The chimpanzee is now protected in several areas of Africa.

Did you know?

Chimpanzees are 3 to 4 times stronger than the average human being!
At night each adult chimpanzee builds a nest of vegetation in a tree.

RED RUFFED LEMUR

Varecia ruber

The Red Ruffed Lemur is restricted to the forests of the Masoala Peninsula of North Eastern Madagascar. The forests in this region are mostly being cleared for agricultural land, so, as with other species of lemur, destruction of their habitat is their main threat for survival.

Between one and four young are born in the spring and hidden away in nest until they are old enough to follow their mother. Ref ruffed lemurs feed mainly on fruit and also eat flowers, leaves and seeds.

CONSERVATION

Red Ruffed Lemurs are endangered meaning they face a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the future.

The successful breeding programme for Red Ruffed and Black & White Ruffed Lemurs in European Zoos is coordinated by Cologne Zoo, Germany.

Other Primates at the Zoo

Black & White Ruffed Lemur	King Colobus Lemur	Ring-tailed Lemur
Black Lemur	Mongoose Lemur	Vervet Monkey
Crowned Lemur	Red-bellied Lemur