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Apes Aren't Monkeys
In the world of primates, there are distinct differences between apes and monkeys. Apes rely more on vision, while monkeys rely more on smell. Apes have broad chests, they don't have tails and their arms are longer than their legs. They are also able to fully rotate their shoulders, which allows them to swing from tree branch to tree branch.
Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos are all great apes. Closely related to humans, these highly intelligent animals are capable of solving problems, creating tools, and using language. Young chimpanzees and orangutans are the great apes commonly exploited by the entertainment industry.
Chimpanzees are social animals who live in groups of around 50 individuals, called communities. Their Western African home consists of tropical rain forests, woodlands, swamp forests, and grasslands. Chimpanzee friends hold hands, hug, and even kiss. A community works together to find and share food and they hoot, scream, and slap logs to attract others. A lip-puckering face shows concern, and while people assume that chimpanzees are smiling when they show their teeth, this is actually a sign of fear. Young chimpanzees learn the complex system of communication, needed survival skills, and proper etiquette from other members of the community. Offspring may keep a close, lifelong bond with their mother.
Orangutans live in Asian tropical rain forests and spend their time almost exclusively in trees. They are shy, solitary animals who explore large territories. Orangutans use leaves as umbrellas for shelter from the sun and rain or as cups to drink water, and they even construct ponchos out of large leaves to keep themselves dry. Orangutans have the longest childhood of the great apes, staying with their mothers for about seven years as they are taught important survival skills such as locating hidden fruits and building their nightly nests 40 to 60 feet high in a tree. Orangutan communication includes smacking their lips when annoyed, screaming when scared, and grinding their teeth when frustrated.
All the great apes are endangered by poaching, loss of habitat, and the illegal trade in apes. Captive breeding does nothing to help wild populations.
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