According to nature, chimpanzees are known as omnivorous frugivores, meaning they eat many types of food such as insects, plant leaves, flowers, small animals, and fruits.
Fruits make up about 59.4% of their diet. Some foods must be prepared before they eat them. With fruits, some are chewed to form small balls called wadges, which chimpanzees dip into water before sucking out the juice.
For foods like nuts, chimpanzees use stones or branches to open them. They are very clever. They place the nut on a firm surface like a tree root and then hit it with a stone or branch to crack it open.
Ants can bite as a way of defending themselves, but chimps are not afraid. They break a stick to the right size and insert it into the ant nest. When ants climb onto the stick, the chimpanzees pull it out and eat them.
Figs are also part of their diet because they are nutritious and give good energy. When fruits are few, chimps eat leaves and flowers, even though they prefer fruits. They can also search for honey, using sticks to dip into the hive or to break it open.
To experience a more extended and intimate encounter with chimpanzees, consider exploring the details on chimpanzee habituation permits.
In the early days, researchers thought chimpanzees were vegetarians until Jane Goodall discovered that they sometimes eat meat by hunting other animals. However, meat is only about 6% of their diet.
Like humans, chimps also know the value of some plants. In Gombe Stream National Park, chimpanzees have been seen eating Aspilia mossambicensis, a plant that helps remove parasites from their stomach or helps with digestion.
Just like people, young chimps are fed on milk until they are ready to eat solid food. They stay under their mother’s care for several years until they are strong enough to survive in the wild.
Orphaned chimps, who have no mothers to care for them, often become weak and are given a special healthy diet to help them grow well.
Chimpanzees are a must-see species. Do not miss the chance to visit them.
Visit Kibale National Park in Uganda with these recommended Uganda chimpanzee companies or inquire with us below to book your tour directly through this website.
