Chimps are a very intelligent group of animals.  They communicate with each other by noises, gestures, calls, postures, and facial expressions.  Every chimpanzee has their own pant-hoot that is recognized by all other chimps.  It can mean danger, excitement, or just a call to someone.

	Chimpanzees can show their happiness just like humans can!  Here, a chimp smiles for the camera.

Mother chimps are very protective over their babies, like humans.  They would attack another chimp if she thought it was harassing her baby. Here, a mother chimps cuddles her baby, high in a tree, away from danger.

Sometimes chimps can learn things by themselves, as they have the learning capacity of a three or four year old.  For instance, chimpanzees use rocks as tools, often to get food, as in this picture below.

	Here, a chimp is using a rock as assistance to get food from a dead log.

Chimpanzees are the only animals apart from humans to feel grief.  Here, this chimpanzee is grieving from the loss of his mother.  He stops eating, drinking, and stays in a huddled position all.  Sadly, he died just a few days after this picture was taken.

Grieving chimp.

Scientists used to think that chimpanzees were dumb, but over the year, that was proved false.  Chimpanzees are smarter than all animals, some are even being taught by humans.

	This chimpanzee is being taught how to read using computer screens and little books.

This chimpanzee is learning how to understand languages.  He is being taught by head phones and pictures.

	Here, this chimpanzee is learning how to paint.  Like a human, he knows that he has to put the brush on the paper, and move it around.

	Here, this chimp is learning sign language.  Now that really shows how smart chimpanzees are!

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Life as a chimpanzee

Cousins

Julius