Did you know that chimpanzees are our closest relatives among the wild animals? They are African apes and they live only in Africa.
   Male chimps usually weigh up to 110 pounds and are about five feet tall when they are standing up. Female chimpanzees are a bit smaller.
    Chimps feed mainly on fruits and nuts.  Some chimpanzees have learned to use sticks to crack open nuts and get the juicy kernels inside of them.  Chimps were once thought to feed entirely on plants, but they eat quite a lot of meat as well.  They often kill pigs and antelope. They like to catch and eat termites by poking sticks into their nests .
    Male chimps sometimes work in teams to trap monkeys in trees.  If they find plenty of food, the males will make a drumming sound on the tree trunk to call other  chimps to feast.
    Chimps make simple beds for themselves by weaving thin, leafy branches together.  They do not make new beds every night.
    They live in groups up to 100 animals. The group leader is usually the noisiest male.  Males often quarrel with each other, but the females usually are all good friends.

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