Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Hominidae |
| Subfamily: | Homininae |
| Tribe: | Hominini |
| Genus: | Pan |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
P. t. ellioti
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| Trinomial name | |
| Pan troglodytes ellioti (Matschie,1914)
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| Synonyms | |
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Pan troglodytes vellerosus |
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The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee (scientific name: Pan troglodytes ellioti) is a special type, or subspecies, of the common chimpanzee. These chimpanzees live in the rainforests near the border of Nigeria and Cameroon in Africa. Male chimpanzees can weigh up to 70 kilograms (about 154 pounds). They can be up to 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) long and 1.3 meters (about 4.3 feet) tall. Female chimpanzees are usually smaller than males. Sadly, the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is considered Endangered. This means there's a high chance they could disappear forever if we don't protect them.
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Discovering the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee
This chimpanzee was officially recognized as a separate subspecies in 1997. It is the fourth known type of chimpanzee. Scientists have not studied this subspecies as much as the others. Their numbers are decreasing in the wild. There are only about 3,500 to 9,000 individuals left.
What Do They Look Like?
Adult male Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees in zoos can weigh around 80 kilograms (about 176 pounds). Adult females in zoos weigh about 65 kilograms (about 143 pounds). When they stand up tall, they can be about 1 to 1.7 meters (3.3 to 5.6 feet) high.
Where Do They Live?
The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee lives in specific areas across Nigeria and Cameroon. They are found in different national parks and forest reserves.
Chimpanzee Homes in Nigeria
- Gashaka-Gumti National Park is home to about 900 to 1,000 chimpanzees.
- Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve also has some of these chimpanzees.
- In 2006, chimpanzees were found in several forest reserves in southwestern Nigeria. These include Idanre Forest Reserve, Ifon Forest Reserve, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Omo Forest Reserve, Ise Forest Reserve, Ologbo Forest Reserve, and Okomu National Park.
- Chimpanzees were seen in Ondo State, Ekiti State, Edo State, and Ogun State.
- Later, they were also found in Akure-Ofosu Forest Reserve.
- Sadly, these groups of chimpanzees are in danger. They face threats like losing their homes and human activities such as hunting.
- The Edumanom Forest Reserve was the last known place for chimpanzees in the Niger Delta in 2008.
Chimpanzee Homes in Cameroon
- Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary has between 500 and 1,450 chimpanzees.
- Ebo Wildlife Reserve is home to about 626 to 1,480 individuals.
- Mbam Djerem National Park has at least 500 chimpanzees.
Their Natural Habitat
These chimpanzees live in tropical rain forests. They also live in montane forests, which are forests found on mountains. They can live at high places, up to 2,750 meters (about 9,022 feet) above sea level. Some groups of these chimpanzees also live mainly in savanna habitats, which are grasslands with scattered trees.
How Long Do They Live?
Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees can live for a long time. They can live for 40 to 60 years in the wild.
Protecting These Chimpanzees
The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is the most endangered and least widespread of all the common chimpanzee subspecies. This means they are at a very high risk of extinction in the next few decades. It is very important to protect their homes and stop illegal hunting to help them survive.
