The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and OursBy Jane Goodall

Genre: Expository Nonfiction

The Mind of the Chimpanzee• They can do many things that humans

can

• They can use stems, twigs, & sticks to fish or catch insects.

• They can clean themselves with leaves

• Excellent memories (Just like you!)

• Infant chimps learn their behavior by watching adults

• They imitate & practice what they have seen within their culture

Chimpanzees in CaptivityScientists have tested the minds of chimpanzees.

• They can find sticks to pull in food that is placed outside their cages

• They can join 2 sticks together to make 1 long tool

• They can recognize their caretakers after some time

• They can plan what they are going to do

Communication• Two sets of scientists, the Hayeses & the Gardners

worked with chimpanzees on different forms of communication

• Can be taught how to say a few words after some time

• Taught how to do sign language….

• Can learn 300 signs or more!

Chimpanzees in Captivity• Chimpanzees were 1st brought to Europe from

Africa in the middle of the 17th century

• People were amazed at their humanlike creatures

** They were often used in different forms of entertainment

* performed in movies, circuses & advertisements * sometimes treated badly in captive

situations

Well known Chimpanzees• J. Fred Muggs – starred on the Today show for

years, but he was replaced with another younger, stronger one eventually

* Ham - was sent into space on a Mercury rocket in January 1961 & after that trip, it was determined that it was safe for humans to travel into space

Behavior of chimpanzees• When they are younger, chimpanzees are gentle & easy to handle

• As they grow older, they can become more & more difficult

• They can resent discipline and even bite

• By the time they are six years old, they are already as strong as a human male!

• Some people have tried to keep them as pets, but often it doesn’t work out.

Chimpanzees are often used in medical research

• Since their bodies are so similar to ours, scientists use chimps to find out more about human diseases, cures & prevention

JoJo

• Was an example of a chimp living in an bad environment

• Some chimps have: * little physical contact * drab surroundings * very little contact with other animals

Is life getting better for chimps?

• Animal welfare groups are trying to raise money to build sanctuaries for them and improve the lives of chimpanzees

• Many zoos are creating better environments for them, including stimulating, different things for them to do each day

• Many zoos are creating challenging activities and making sure the chimpanzees are getting the physical contact they need

Protecting the Chimpanzees Chimps live in the forested areas of west & central Africa. There is a lot of water in this area, which the Chimps depend on.

• They are facing extinction! (already extinct in 4 countries)• 100 years ago, it is estimated that there were about 2

million chimpanzees in Africa.

• Now, there are no more than 150,000.

Why are they disappearing?1. Forests are being destroyed as human

populations grow2. They are getting caught in snares (traps)3. Some are getting smuggled in live animal trade4. Commercial hunting for food (“bushmeat” trade)

bushmeat trade is when people prefer the taste from wild animals & will pay more for it. (MUST BE STOPPED)

Other problems facing chimps• Poor people need land for

farms, so they burn down the forests

• Animals are trapped because the people need food

• Bushmeat trade has a very profitable business

Chimpanzee Facts• Full grown male at Gombe is about 4

feet tall and up to 115 pounds

• Full grown female is about same height, but no more than 85 pounds

• In west & central Africa, they are little bigger & heavier

• In captivity, they tend to be heavier & also live no longer than 50 years in the wild, up to about 60 in captivity

Female chimps in the wild will raise generally two – nine offspring!!!

Chimpanzee Habitats• Found in 21 African countries,

including: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi & Tanzania

• Live in the largest parts of rainforests along the equator

• The Gombe Stream Research Center is located on the eastern shore of

Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania

?’s to Consider…..1. What is the main purpose of the map on

p.447?

2. What do the photographs in the story help us to

understand?

3. Is the story biased or balanced writing? Why do you think so?

4. Do you think the author is qualified to write about chimpanzees? Why?

Jane Goodall is dedicated to improving the lives of chimps

The End