The chimpanzee diet is unusual. Chimpanzees are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They need many nutrients, so they eat up to 100 types of plants. They also eat meat, insects, ants, bird eggs, pith, bark, buds, and termites. However, they mostly prefer plant-based foods.
Common chimpanzees mainly eat fruits. When fruits are not available, they eat leaves, shoots, stems, flowers, seeds, resin, and bark. Bonobo chimpanzees also prefer fruits, which make up about 57% of their diet.
When chimpanzees go hunting, they often work together as a group. Some chase the prey, others block its way, and some ambush it. After catching the prey, they all share the meat.
Chimpanzees sometimes use leaves as cups to drink water. They also use stones to crack open nuts. They have been seen hunting small animals like Patas monkeys, yellow baboons, red-tailed monkeys, western red colobus monkeys, and small antelopes like duikers.
Chimpanzees spend most of their day eating. In the morning, they eat whatever is available nearby. In the afternoon, they choose foods more carefully, often eating ripe fruits and water-filled leaves.
At Gombe National Park in Tanzania, chimpanzees have been seen eating the Apilia mossambicensis plant, which helps them get rid of parasites in their stomachs. Figs are an important energy source for them, and they also eat honey.
In Guinea, West Africa, chimpanzees have been seen drinking palm wine. The sugar in palm nuts ferments in the heat, turning into alcohol. Chimpanzees use folded leaves as cups to drink it.
Baby chimpanzees, especially orphans, can be fed milk. This has been observed at the Tchimpounga Sanctuary.
Chimpanzees are omnivores, but most of their diet is made up of plant foods.
