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Written by Dr. Lorraine Docherty
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Thursday, 18 January 2007 00:00 |
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Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives
Humans and chimpanzees are remarkably similar genetically; only a 1. 24% difference exists between our DNA and theirs compared to a difference of 1.63% between chimpanzees and gorillas. And, the similarity does not end there; no other animal species resembles us as closely physically. Chimpanzees have also been observed to use as many as 54 different kinds of tools. They are excellent hunters and hunt cooperatively as a team. They usually hunt for small monkeys such as the red colobus monkeys as well as small duikers and bush pigs. Furthermore chimpanzee groups have been shown to exhibit behavioural diversity through cultural transmission to the extent that just by observing a specific grooming behaviour you can determine with certainty which community the chimpanzee belongs to. Like humans they also care for injured members of their group and mourn the death of their companions.
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Last Updated on Monday, 20 July 2009 15:15 |
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