Although chimpanzees and humans share a surprising 98.8 percent of their DNA, our differences are vast – or at least we like to think. Take a look at chimp behavior and you’ll quickly realize that we’re not so different from our primate cousins (for better or for worse).
Humans aren’t the only animals to wage war on their own species. Between 1974 and 1978, a brutal war between two factions of chimps was documented in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park by the famous primatologist Jane Goodall.
While some researchers have accused certain primatologists of anthropomorphism, others have suggested that war-like behavior among chimps might provide insights into the evolutionary origins of organized violence in humans.
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The world of chimps isn’t all blood, guts, and violence. A huge body of evidence also shows that chimpanzees are capable of incredible displays of cognitive power and emotional intelligence.
For one, chimpanzees are known to actively seek out medicinal plants when they are sick or wounded. A study in 2024 noted how injured and ill chimps in Uganda’s Budongo Central Forest Reserve will eat plants that hold anti-inflammatory properties or naturally contain highly potent inhibitors of pathogens such as E. coli.
