
How Do Chimpanzees Grow Up?
Chimpanzees, a species of great ape, only live in the central Africa. Tropical rain forests, woodlands and grasslands are their habitats. Besides, chimpanzees are the social animals. They tend to live in the group of 10 to 100 members and the male chimpanzees lead the whole family. On the other hand, the duty of female chimpanzees is taking good care of baby chimps. In addition, chimpanzees have approximately 98% of DNA with human. Just like human, chimpanzees usually have to rely on their mother chimp until they establish the own family. They learn surviving skills and commute with other chimps from their mother. In the process of growth, childhood, adolescence and adulthood are three stages for chimpanzee to become independent.
Childhood

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In the early age of chimpanzees, they show the strong bond to their mother chimpanzee. For 3 to 6 months, baby chimpanzees are carried on her mother’s front side. As chimpanzees grow up, they ride on mother’s back. As a result, each of the baby chimpanzees usually has the strong physical contact with their mother in their development. Besides, baby chimps rely on their mother’s milk until they have been weaned. Once chimpanzees are weaned, they have to find meals on their own. When baby chimpanzees are about 3 and 4 years old, the mother chimpanzee no longer provides milk to their kids. Baby chimps begin to eat fruits and plants as same as the older chimpanzees. In addition, young chimps learn what plants are able to eat by observing their mother. In chimpanzees’ childhood, their activities are usually accompanied by their mother.
Adolescence

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During the period of juvenile, from 6 to 9 years old, chimpanzees behave independently but still close to their mother. The mother chimp teaches their offspring how to survive in the wild. Jane Goodall did the research on wild chimpanzee at Gombe, Tanzania. She found out mother chimpanzees will teach their kids how to use and make tools so that baby chimpanzees can learn living skills. For instance, when arriving at the termite nests, the mother chimp carries the useful tool and uses the strategy to grab termite. Therefore, offspring will mimic their mother’s behavior and learn the skill. On the other hand, the mother chimp will teach young chimps how to act in social system. Chimpanzees learn the skill by watching their mother chimp commutes with other chimpanzees. It is important to build up the relationship with the group for safety and support. For example, if the mother chimpanzee is dead, the older siblings or other females in the group will take care of baby chimp. This kind of interaction represents that chimps are the social animals, living in the community of the big family.
Adulthood

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In chimpanzee’s adulthood, they begin to build up family. The male chimpanzees can have the first baby in 15 years old. However, females are able to have kids since 13 years old because of the earlier mature. They give birth every 3 to 5 years and usually to one baby. Besides, chimpanzees have the close relationship with other chimpanzees in order to care for each other. In the wild, the adult chimpanzees also live in communities consists of 10 members. They sometimes do activities together such as search for termite mound and enjoy the fruits. There is a big difference between males and females take care of baby chimps. After having the child, the male chimps will go back to his mother’s side. However; inheriting their mother’s duty, the female chimpanzees take a responsibility to take care of kids. In the chimpanzees’ society, mothers play an important character in the growth of baby chimps.
The growth process of chimpanzees is divided into 3 stages: childhood, teenager, adulthood. Besides, it is estimated that a chimpanzee lives up to 30 years. In chimpanzees’ lifetime, they learn how to use tools and build up a great relationship with whole family. A variety of these abilities are learned by the mother. Mother chimps play the important role of taking care of kid, teach offspring various strategies and support the family. Chimpanzees have to depend on mother chimps in the childhood and teenage. However, since they grow up, chimpanzees need to build up families and have to take a responsibility of offspring. As a result, there is a circulation for chimpanzees.
References
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Canisius College. (2013) Canisius Ambassadors for Conversation. Retrieved from: http://www.conservenature.org/learn_about_wildlife/chimpanzees/chimp_lifespan.htm
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AAAS and EurekAlert. (2016) Wild chimpanzee mothers teach young to use tools, video study confirms. Retrived from: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-10/wuis-wcm101116.php
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NPR (2016) Camera Traps Catch Chimpanzee Moms Teaching Their Children. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/10/20/498578961/camera-traps-reveal-chimpanzee-moms-teaching-their-children
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Jane Goodall. (2018) THE UNIQUE AND FASCINATING LIVES OF CHIMPANZEE MOMS (Picture1) Retrieved from:
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Mail Online. Chimpanzees AND humans spontaneously copy others to pass on new skills to the next generation. (Picture2) Retrieved from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4810904/Chimpanzees-humans-copy-s-actions-learn.html
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Jacqueline Greene. Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center. (picture3)
Retrieved from: https://givingdayforapes.mightycause.com/organization/Tchimpounga