The common chimpanzee is a vegetarian but chimpanzees have been known to hunt and eat meat on occasion. Mostly feeding on ripe fruits and young leaves for most of their nourishment. during the dry season, tree seeds partly replace fruit and flowers, soft pith, galls, resin, bark, honey, insects, eggs and meat are also taken. Annually food intake consists of 60% fruits, 30% other vegetation and 10% meat. Social insects (eg: termites, ants) provide the bulk of the animal matter eaten. However, they also take bush pigs, baboons, deer and an occasional red colobus monkey.  Although more than one chimp may take part in the chase, chimps do not appear to hunt cooperatively and once a kill is made there is intense competition for food ownership. Feeding is essentially an individual activity.

     Surprising to many, the chimpanzee is commonly more aggressive and predatory than many of it's larger relatives like the gorilla.  The head and body length of an average chimpanzee ranges from 63.5cm-94cm. Height when erect 1.0-1.7m (3-4 feet, about the size of a small child). The chimpanzee's arm spread is 50% greater then the their height. Males are larger and stronger than females, with bigger canine teeth which are used in severe fights.  In wild, a chimpanzee weighs approximately 34-70kg for males and 26-50kg for females, respective figures for captives are 80kg and 68kg.

     With intelligence comes aggression and tool use, or so we humans seem to prove.  This fact is also seen in the chimpanzee.  Chimpanzees show a highly accelerated level of intelligence including tool usage and distinct facial and 24 documented vocal communications.   Chimps have been known to use modified sticks or vines to poke into the entrance of a termite nest, withdrawing the tool once it has become covered in insects. Sticks are also used as hooks to pull down fruit laden branches, and as weapons during inter and intra specific fighting. Stones are also used to crack open fruits with hard shells. These skills are culturally acquired by the young observing more experienced chimps.  Chimps in captivity have been able to be trained to perform a series of complex and highly intelligent acts.  While capture and training is not a condoned act, it has proven the chimpanzees higher brain functions.