Introduction There is something very special about chimpanzees Every chimp has its own character It has its own likes and dislikes and can learn many different skills Chimps are smart A chimp can invent a new skill and show it to its friends Chimpanzees are like us That is not surprising They are our nearest living relatives Chimps and humans are descended from the same ancestors who lived in Africa several million years ago 3 A sleepy young chimp with an older brother or sister and their mother with the darker face
2 This chimpanzee looks both relaxed and aware of its surroundings 5 CHIMPANZEES Our human ancestors walked upright on the open plains Chimpanzees were more at home with life in the forests They have long arms fingers and toes for reaching and clinging to branches Chimps use their hands to climb through trees and usually walk on all fours They can also use their hands to make simple tools and use them Chimp talk Chimpanzees have complicated social lives and their own language of signs and sounds Given the chance a chimp can even learn ways of communicating with humans In this book you will discover how chimps live together and how these animals spend their days Brainpower Chimpanzees have big brains and are very intelligent Chimps can solve tricky practical problems They learn from their friends so different groups of chimps deal with the same problems in different ways This is what makes chimpanzees so unpredictable and why their behavior is so fascinating
