Chimpanzees, highly intelligent and social primates, are found exclusively across the African continent. These remarkable animals are considered among our closest living relatives, sharing an estimated 98% of their genes with humans. Their complex behaviors, including tool use and social learning, highlight their advanced cognitive abilities.
Geographic Range Across Africa
Chimpanzees exhibit a broad, though discontinuous, geographic distribution across Equatorial Africa. Their range extends from the western coast, specifically southern Senegal, eastward through the forested belt north of the Congo River, reaching as far as western Uganda and western Tanzania. This encompasses a significant portion of West, Central, and East Africa.
While their distribution remains widespread, their habitat has become considerably smaller and more fragmented over time.
Diverse Habitats Within Their Range
Chimpanzees are adaptable, thriving in various environments within their African range. They are not confined to a single ecosystem, demonstrating their flexibility. These habitats include dense tropical rainforests, where they utilize abundant tree cover for foraging and nesting.
Chimpanzees also inhabit montane forests, found in cooler, hilly regions at elevations up to 3,000 meters. They can also be found in woodland savannas and mosaic landscapes, which combine elements of forests and grasslands. In these areas, they often rely on gallery forests, which are strips of trees along rivers, as well as isolated tree islands within the savanna. Their ability to exploit diverse food sources and build nests in various tree types allows them to persist across these varied ecological settings.
Distinct Chimpanzee Subspecies and Their Locations
Four recognized subspecies of chimpanzees populate distinct geographic areas across Africa. The Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) is primarily found in West Africa. Its range includes countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Ghana.
The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) has a more restricted distribution, inhabiting forested areas along the border between Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon, generally north of the Sanaga River. This subspecies is considered the most threatened due to its limited range.
The Central chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) is located in Central Africa. Its habitat spans Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, south of the Sanaga River and extending to the Ubangi and Congo Rivers.
Finally, the Eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) is found in East Africa. Its distribution covers the Central African Republic, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania.
Pressures on Their Living Spaces
Chimpanzee living spaces are under pressure, leading to habitat reduction and fragmentation. Human activities are the primary drivers of these changes, directly impacting the physical areas where chimpanzees reside. Deforestation is a major factor, with forests cleared for various human endeavors.
Agricultural expansion, including palm oil plantations, is a significant cause of habitat loss. Logging operations also contribute to forest destruction. Mining activities and new infrastructure, such as roads, encroach upon and fragment existing habitats. This shrinking and isolation of their living spaces make chimpanzee populations more vulnerable.