Chimpanzees and humans share 98% of the same genes, and they are extremely intelligent. They constructed intricate civilizations that may consist of several dozens or even hundreds of members. Chimpanzees have been observed by researchers employing tools to help them capture food, and there is evidence that they consume alcohol made from wine palms. However, they are really violent.
Chimpanzees will mutilate you by attacking your face if they corner you and decide to attack. They are able to rip your hands and testicles off of you. The question now is, how to survive a chimpanzee attack?
What Are Chimpanzees?
Chimpanzees are large apes that live in Central and West Africa. They are our closest living relatives, sharing 98.7 percent of our genetic blueprint with bonobos. Humans and chimps are estimated to have shared a common ancestor seven to thirteen million years ago.
Chimpanzees have the broadest behavioral repertoire of any great ape. Despite the fact that many populations dwell in tropical rainforests, they can also be found in woodlands and grasslands from central to western Africa. They normally sleep in trees, primarily the robust Ugandan ironwood tree, which provides the hardest and most secure sleeping environment, and create themselves leaf nests.
Chimps also spend most of their time eating in trees. Though they like fruits and vegetables, their diet is diversified and includes insects, eggs, nuts, and hundreds of other items. They enjoy meat and have been observed killing and eating monkeys, small antelope, and even tortoises, which they bash against trees to burst open their shells.
Do Chimpanzees Pose Any Danger?
Without a doubt, chimpanzees are one of the most popular and well-known animals in the world. Many people love them, so it’s hard to believe that these cute apes can be pretty mean. And, sadly, chimpanzees have been known to attack people over the years, even when they were kept in zoos.
In 2012, a young researcher named Andrew Oberle went to the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Conservation in South Africa. This is a well-known example of this. He was there to do research experiments when he walked into an off-limits area by accident. Two chimps that were being kept as pets didn’t waste any time and attacked Andrew with great force right away. Because of this attack, he lost his ears, nose, fingers, and even his lungs. Andrew lived through the attack, but it showed many people how vicious and aggressive chimps could be, even when they weren’t provoked.
During an attack, a Chimpanzee will usually go for a person’s face, hand, and genitalia. Even if the attack doesn’t kill the person, the effects can be very serious. Chimpanzees in the wild also tend to hunt in groups, which makes it harder for them to get away or stay alive.
Chimpanzees don’t just attack adults, though. They have also been seen to attack and take human babies. The chimpanzees might think that the babies are weaker and easier to catch because of this. Chimpanzees have also been seen eating babies on rare occasions.
What Causes Chimpanzees to Attack Humans?
As previously said, Chimpanzee assaults can be lethal, leaving many to wonder why they occur in the first place. Despite their adorable appearance, Chimpanzees are wild animals who consume meat and are territorial by nature. When a Chimpanzee achieves sexual maturity, social dominance becomes important, and they will engage in aggressive behavior to assert power in their environment. In the wild, a dominating Chimpanzee is more likely to gain territory, resources, and mating partners. This, in turn, boosts their chances of survival as a group and as individuals.
It is not uncommon for chimps to become hostile when their territories are invaded, whether in the wild or in captivity. In the case of Andrew’s attack, it is extremely possible that the Chimps perceived Andrew’s entry into the restricted area as an act of aggression, prompting the attack.
Another possible explanation for Chimpanzee attacks is a scarcity of resources. Many regions where Chimpanzees live in the wild have experienced significant changes in climate and thus available resources. Because their regular diet consists primarily of flora, attacks on people are an act of desperation on the part of these Chimps.
Pet apes becoming aggressive, on the other hand, can be a little more problematic. Travis, a pet Chimp, went rogue in Stamford, Connecticut, in 2009, when he savagely mauled his owner’s friend. Although the reason for the attack was unknown at the time, a subsequent police investigation discovered that Travis had been drugged with Xanax, a substance known to provoke aggression and agitation in the user.
Domesticated apes and those in captivity are rarely hostile in the wild, and reports of their attacks are still scarce. So, if you approach a chimp in a safe situation with competent assistance, you are unlikely to encounter a problem.
How to Survive a Chimpanzee Attack?
Chimpanzees are one of humanity’s closest relatives and a highly intelligent species. Although there is nothing the normal person can do to fend off a Chimpanzee because they are both stronger and faster than us, there are several guidelines that may increase your chances of survival.
Smile.
In monkeys, showing your teeth and smiling widely is a gesture of friendliness and submissiveness. A big smile may make you appear less of a threat to the aggressive Chimp.
Keep your distance from their lips.
For many years, experts believed that chimps were five times as strong as humans. Newer research, however, indicated that chimps are 1.5 to two times stronger than humans in terms of muscle mass and composition. You might be able to survive a punch, but you’ll need to avoid their most potent weapon, their mouth. Use anything you have on hand to keep a chimp away from you. However, don’t use your hands since chimps can grab them and rip your fingers off. If you don’t have anything else, keep the great ape away from your face, critical organs, and testicles by using your feet.
Enter the Water.
The African Kingdom’s chimps are not the best swimmers. In the event of an attack, swiftly diving into nearby waters could be a successful supply method. Chimps struggle to float due of their low-fat physique. And their anatomy makes it difficult for them to keep their heads above water in order to breathe. As a result, you may be a better swimmer than they are. Jump into the water as soon as possible. It’s your final opportunity.
Continue to Move.
They are faster and stronger than humans because they have more fast-twitch muscle fibers in their body. Slow-twitch muscle fibers in humans, on the other hand, are more fatigue resistant. So, if you can put some distance between yourself and the angry chimps, you might be able to exhaust them and survive. But you must keep moving.
Play Dead.
If everything else fails, try playing dead. Believe it or not, most Chimps aren’t interested in eating human meat, so if a wild Chimp thinks you’re already dead, you might slip away unscathed!
Conclusion
Chimpanzees are one of the world’s most iconic and well-known creatures. Despite their worldwide reputation, many Chimpanzee enthusiasts wonder if they are dangerous to people and how far the Chimps’ strength can actually go. Chimpanzees are much stronger than ordinary adult and can be deadly to humans. There have been numerous accounts of Chimps attacking humans in the wild and in captivity, yet these attacks are rarely lethal.
During an assault, a Chimpanzee will usually target a human’s hands, face, and genitals. The aggressive side of the Chimps is a dense yet fascinating topic. The advice provided above does not guarantee your safety, but it does offer you a fighting chance. This article should have taught you something. Take notes; they may come in handy someday. If you like this article don’t forget to check out on how to survive in the wild to get the basic skills and knowledge.
