![]() In the photo on the right, he uses his right hand to hold the monkey down, and consumes muscle from the inner thigh of the right hind leg. In the photo on the left, he holds the carcass in his left hand, and sucks the brain from the skull. Screen captures show videotaped meat-eating by an adult male chimpanzee in the Kasakela community at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. "Twice, we observed the possessor sucking on the head, presumably extracting the brain," the scientists wrote. Whenever a chimp caught a young monkey, they all typically used a similar method to kill and eat them, biting down on the head and pulling hard, "apparently trying to remove the body from the skull," according to the study. For adult monkeys, the chimps also were interested in the brains, but they cracked the skulls first only 44 percent of the time. Prior research suggested that chimps found monkey brains to be especially desirable the scientists cited a chimpanzee study from 1973 that noted, "The brain is the only organ for which marked preference is regularly shown, and the eating of brain tissue is always a slow, meticulous procedure with a definite undertone of enjoyment."įor the new study, the team recorded 29 incidents of monkey-eating by eight chimpanzees, and found that if the monkey was a juvenile, the chimps first went for the head 91 percent of the time. They also contain certain fatty acids that are absent from plants and are known, at least in humans, to be important for brain function and for lessening the damage from some diseases, the study authors reported. Seeing chimpanzees in the wild is such a thrilling experience as you get to see and witness all the things that make them so interesting.Brains, especially mammal brains, are especially high in fat. Chimps living in different areas will have different diet specifics depending on what is available. Like many other aspects, chimpanzees are closely related to humans, and like us, they can eat a wide variety of animal and plant products. Therefore, most modern processed or fried foods are not given to chimps - much as they are totally capable of eating them. The food given to the chimps is often the most healthy food option available. In a more practical sense, chimpanzees in the wild have no access to what would be called human food.Ĭhimpanzees at the zoo or in any other captive situation are can eat human food, especially in terms of fruits and vegetables that make up part of their diet. ![]() Since chimps and humans are very closely related, it is true that chimpanzees can eat human food. Related article: Where do chimpanzees live in the wild Can chimps eat human food? In the zoo environment, it has been observed that chimpanzees like bananas more than other 'less sweet' options such as kale or cucumber. In sanctuaries or zoos, chimps can be given food which includes a banana on a regular basis. Therefore, some chimpanzee groups in the wild see humans on a regular basis but have never seen or tasted a banana Visitors who go to the thick forests to see chimpanzees in their natural habitat are strictly prohibited from giving chimps any food - even bananas. Like monkeys or gorillas, chimpanzees in the wild can live their whole lives without ever seeing or tasting a banana. This is because they live in a wild rainforest environment which doesn't support the growth of banana plants. Do chimps eat bananas in the wild?Ĭhimpanzees in the wild do not eat bananas. Chimpanzees often hunt monkeys and small antelopes that can easily be overpowered.įorest habitats have very many animals that are quite small and chimpanzees can hunt and eat any of them. Like humans, chimps require a certain amount of animal protein and they get this by hunting and eating some animals in their habitat. ![]() ![]() While these might not be regarded as meat, they are a stable source of protein in cases where there are fewer options for hunted meat. ![]() Since they don't need a large part of their diet to consist of meat, chimps hunt less often and the kill is usually shared with the whole group.Ĭhimpanzees have strong incisors and can easily tear through raw meat without any hardship.Īnts, insects, and smaller invertebrates also make up a good source of animal protein for chimps. Yes, chimpanzees eat meat and it is an important part of their diet accounting for around 6% of their overall diet. ![]()
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