Chimpanzees: An Animal Rescue Story

Come with us to learn about a very special chimpanzee named Henry at Chimp Haven in Louisiana. Hear about what makes chimpanzees so special, hear Henry's rescue story, and learn how to help chimps from your own home!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:09

Hey explorers, welcome to Animal Rescue Adventures, the show where we meet amazing animals and become heroes for them too. I'm Steph and today we're going on a rescue mission. Today we're visiting a very special animal named Henry at Champhaven in Louisiana. Can you guess what kind of animal he is? Henry is a chimpanzee. Let's learn a few cool things about chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are highly intelligent apes that share 98.5 of their DNA with humans. Chimps don't use tools, they make them. They sharpen sticks to hunt for food, use rocks to crack open nuts, and use leaves as sponges to soak up drinking water. When playing with friends or getting tickled, chimpanzees make a laughing sound. Just like humans, no two chimps have the same fingerprints. Young chimps learn how to find food and use tools by watching their mothers staying close to them for up to 10 years. Every single night, chimps build a fresh, comfortable nest in the trees using branches and leaves. Chimpanzees groom each other's fur to make friends, reduce stress, and strengthen bonds within their community. Aside from sharing almost all of our DNA, they can be taught sign language, display emotions like joy and sorrow, and even recognize themselves in a mirror. Chimps are omnivores, they eat mostly fruit, but also leaves, insects, and small animals. In the wild they live for about 45 years old. They come from West and Central Africa. But Henry didn't start out in Africa. He was raised as a roadside attraction and pet for 15 years when authorities found him living in a small cage in someone's garage in Texas. Texas rescuers worked very hard to get Henry nourished and cleaned up when he could transition to the Chimp Haven in Louisiana. The Chimphaven rescue teams helped Henry heal and get healthier. The rescue team also had to introduce him to other chimp friends, since he had been raised only with humans for 15 years. He didn't know how to act like a chimp himself or interact with other chimpanzees. It took many years, but Henry has slowly but surely become a chimp and a chimp friend to other chimpanzees at the sanctuary where he has now lived for 15 years. So that makes him 30 years old right now. Sometimes he has socialization issues with chimps from being raised by humans, but he still has made huge improvements and is living his best possible life at the sanctuary. Trivia time. Chimpanzees do what activity to make friends reduce stress and strengthen bonds within their community? They groom each other. Chimps stay with their mother until what age? Ten years old. Chimpanzees do what when they hang out with their friends or get tickled? They laugh. Chimps share ninety-eight point five of what with humans? Their DNA. Chimpanzees can use what to communicate with humans? Sign language. How cool is that? Do you know any sign language? Alright explorers, here is your mission today. You can help chimpanzees like Henry by recycling electronics. Recycling old phones, tablets, and computers reduces the need for mining, saving the forest. You can use less paper. Reduce reuse and recycle paper products to prevent deforestation in the Congo Basin where they live. Avoid unsustainable palm oil. Many products use palm oil, which causes forest destruction. Ask your parents to look for products that use sustainable palm oil or none at all. Support organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute or Chimphaven by symbolically adopting chimpanzee. Do not support cruel photo opportunities. Never take photos with a baby chimpanzee or any wild animal as this encourages poachers. Every small action makes a big difference. Our adventure ends today with our new friend Henry. Let's promise to do our part to protect animals and our planet, because here at Animal Rescue Adventures, every animal matters and every explorer helps. And for the parents listening, remember to sign up for our Animal Rescue Adventures Club at www.supportanimal rescue adventures.com. That's support Animal Rescue Adventures.com. See you later.