The Bonobo Chimpanzee

The bonobo, a great ape, is the closest ape related to chimpanzee’s. Bonobo’s were only discovered to be a different type of species in 1933. The bonobo lives in the deep distant areas of the rain forest in the central parts of Africa. There is still a lot to be discovered about the Bonobo. The bonobo is shaped a bit different than other chimpanzee’s. The weight of the bonobo is dispersed on their torso with the center area of gravity being located more to the lower part. This enables the bonobo to be able to stand more erect and walk on two feet. The arms are long compared to their torso giving them a more lanky look. This is what enables them to live comfortably up in the trees going from tree to tree with no difficulty.

Most human like

There is more of a common appearance between the bonobo and humans than other apes  have. It is possible that the bonobo is the closest living speciman that could be related to man. Their heads and the ears are bit smaller and their brow line over their eyes is much smaller than other chimpanzee’s. The skin on their face is very dark. Their hair is dark black and actually parts in the middle like so many of us do ours. On the sides of their faces are bushy sideburns. All of this gives them so many human characteristics.

Uses tools

Kanzi, a 31 year old bonobo ape, likes to collect pieces of wood. He enjoys breaking the branches into tiny pieces and placing them in a neat pile. Then the amazing thing he does, is he lights a match to start his own fire. This again is a natural trait of a male human, it seems they too love to play with fire. I don’t know any man that doesn’t enjoy a good barbecue. Apes and chimpanzee’s have been showing they are able to use tools for quite a while now, but this is the first time known that one has shown an interest in fire. Dr Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, one of the world’s known experts studying ape behavior and speech, feels that by Kanzi showing an interest in fire, it is showing he has a deep intelligence.