Pan troglodytes
It inhabits the forests of central-western Africa where it lives in numerous barrels, eating fruit, leaves, seeds but also other small mammals that it catches in groups. It has complex social behaviours, and it’s capable of using natural elements such as stones and sticks to make tools. It’s the animal species that is genetically closest to men. Despite this, men are leading it to extinction through habitat destruction and poaching, especially for food purposes.
WHO IS THERE AT THE BIOPARCO?
The group is made up of Bingo, the alpha male, and Susy, Edy and Pippi, the three females. Bingo is very exuberant, agile, sociable and playful, especially with Edy with whom he has lived since his arrival. Both confiscated by the police at the age of 3 and 5, their age is uncertain but it is assumed that they were born in 1990 and 1992 respectively.
Susy is the dominant female with a very determined character, but she is quiet and sociable. She is respected by the other members of the group, she was born approximately in 1979 but her exact origin is not known as well as that of Pippi, born approximately in 1985, probably in nature, and transferred to the Bioparco from the Pistoia Zoo in 2004.
Each of them eats about 3-4 kg of food a day, especially vegetables (70%) such as lettuce, chicory, radicchio, chard and spinach, fruit (20%) and pellets (10%), a granular agglomerate rich in wheat, corn, soy, yeast, vitamins, micro-minerals and amino acids. Milk, yoghurt, tea, barley, soy, pasta, rice, potatoes and eggs complete their diet.
They all live in an area full of stimuli of 1500 square metres.
The Bioparco participates in the conservation of chimpanzees through the EEP programme for the species coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (Eaza Ex Situ Programme) which includes several actions including captive breeding aimed at obtaining a stock of animals for future releases in the wild, public awareness and scientific research.
