Our closest living relatives
Chimpanzees live in large communities that split into smaller parties when food is scarce. They use tools such as sticks to fish for termites and stones to crack nuts, and each community has its own traditions.
A varied vocal toolkit
The pant-hoot is a long, rising call that builds to a scream and is distinctive to each individual, so others can tell who is calling from far away. Chimpanzees also give alarm barks and food calls, and studies suggest that some food calls change depending on how much or what kind of food has been found.
Pressures on wild populations
Habitat loss, disease and hunting have caused steep declines. Protected forest corridors, sanctuaries and community-led monitoring are central to their survival.
Listen
What it sounds like: Pant-hoots, screams, barks and food calls.
To hear independent recordings, try Freesound. Check each recording’s licence before reusing it. See Media & Sources.
Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.