The Chimpanzee Files
Everything you never knew you needed to know about chimps
Chimpanzees share almost 99% of their DNA with humans — they use tools, form lifelong friendships, and even have their own regional "cultures" passed down between generations.
Step into the world of one of the smartest animals on the planet. Watch iconic footage from Planet Earth and Deadly 60 as chimpanzees hunt, play, problem-solve, and communicate in the wild. Dig into fact sheets you can print or take anywhere, and follow real stories that show how chimp troops work together, settle conflicts, and raise their young.
No classroom required — just curiosity. Videos, facts, and activities for anyone (ages 8 and up) who wants to get closer to our closest living relative.
Get Your Chimpanzee Fact File
What animal laughs during play, uses tools to solve problems, and shares nearly 99% of its DNA with you? Meet the chimpanzee — one of the smartest and most fascinating animals on Earth.
This fact file takes learners on a journey into the world of chimpanzees, from the rainforests and savannas they call home to the remarkable ways they communicate, work together, and care for their families. Along the way, learners will discover how chimpanzees use tools, build friendships, raise their young, and face challenges in the wild.
Watch Videos of Chimps in Action
In Clever Chimpanzees, naturalist Steve Backshall comes across chimps in the Loango National Park in Gabon. He watches them engage in behaviors he has never seen before, including working together to get honey. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
A troop of 150 chimpanzees. That's not a typo — it's the largest chimp community ever recorded in Africa, and they all live in one stretch of forest in Uganda. Sir David Attenborough takes you inside their world in this clip from BBC's Planet Earth, and it's not exactly peaceful. Chimps are unusual among jungle animals — they move just as easily through the treetops as they do on the ground, which comes in handy when your diet depends on finding enough fig trees to feed 150 mouths. But a community this size needs serious territory to sustain it, and that means defending it.
Watch as the troop uses coordinated calls to launch a raid into a rival group's land. Once they cross into enemy territory, everything changes: the calls stop, the pace slows, and every chimp is on high alert, listening for signs of who — and how many — they're up against.
It's a side of chimpanzees you don't usually see: strategic, tense, and surprisingly military in style. Great conversation starter for anything on animal behavior, group dynamics, or how intelligence shows up in unexpected ways.
In How Chimpanzees Use Tools, narrator Sir David Attenborough investigates how young chimpanzees are taught how to crack nuts by their mothers. Young chimps can take up to 10 years to master this skill. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Clever Chimpanzees, naturalist Steve Backshall comes across chimps in the Loango National Park in Gabon. He watches them engage in behaviors he has never seen before, including working together to get honey. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
A troop of 150 chimpanzees. That's not a typo — it's the largest chimp community ever recorded in Africa, and they all live in one stretch of forest in Uganda. Sir David Attenborough takes you inside their world in this clip from BBC's Planet Earth, and it's not exactly peaceful. Chimps are unusual among jungle animals — they move just as easily through the treetops as they do on the ground, which comes in handy when your diet depends on finding enough fig trees to feed 150 mouths. But a community this size needs serious territory to sustain it, and that means defending it.
Watch as the troop uses coordinated calls to launch a raid into a rival group's land. Once they cross into enemy territory, everything changes: the calls stop, the pace slows, and every chimp is on high alert, listening for signs of who — and how many — they're up against.
It's a side of chimpanzees you don't usually see: strategic, tense, and surprisingly military in style. Great conversation starter for anything on animal behavior, group dynamics, or how intelligence shows up in unexpected ways.
In How Chimpanzees Use Tools, narrator Sir David Attenborough investigates how young chimpanzees are taught how to crack nuts by their mothers. Young chimps can take up to 10 years to master this skill. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
Learn About Jane Goodall and the Chimpanzees
In Jane Goodall's Life Among the Chimpanzees, host Dermot O'Leary explores the groundbreaking work of a young woman who transformed our understanding of animal behavior and human origins. Jane Goodall’s determination and pioneering spirit took her from a typist in Bournemouth to a world-renowned primatologist. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Jane Goodall and the Fight for Chimpanzees, host Dermot O'Leary hears a powerful message from Jane Goodall about the importance of preserving chimpanzees and their habitats. Goodall emphasizes that individual actions matter, and that hope is essential in tackling seemingly impossible challenges. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Jane Goodall's Life Among the Chimpanzees, host Dermot O'Leary explores the groundbreaking work of a young woman who transformed our understanding of animal behavior and human origins. Jane Goodall’s determination and pioneering spirit took her from a typist in Bournemouth to a world-renowned primatologist. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Jane Goodall and the Fight for Chimpanzees, host Dermot O'Leary hears a powerful message from Jane Goodall about the importance of preserving chimpanzees and their habitats. Goodall emphasizes that individual actions matter, and that hope is essential in tackling seemingly impossible challenges. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
Test Your Knowledge of Chimpanzee Facts
Chimpanzees are among the most intelligent animals on Earth — and they just happen to be our closest living relatives. Sharing about 95–98% of their DNA with humans, chimpanzees can use tools, solve problems, communicate with one another, and even pass knowledge from one generation to the next.
Found in the forests and woodlands of central and western Africa, chimpanzees live in complex social groups called troops. They spend their days searching for food, caring for their young, and navigating a world that is increasingly threatened by habitat loss and human activity.
From cracking nuts with stones to using sticks to fish for termites, chimpanzees continue to amaze scientists with their creativity and intelligence. But how much do you know about these remarkable primates?
Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, an animal expert, or simply curious about our closest cousins in the animal kingdom, this quiz will put your chimpanzee knowledge to the test. Let's see if you have what it takes to become a Chimp Champion!