Chimpanzees may seem like friendly, cuddly creatures but they can pose a serious threat to humans as villagers are finding out in a virtual war with the animals. A full-grown chimp can have up to five times the upper body strength of a man, says Dutch primatologist Frans de Waal: “People watch pro wrestlers on TV and think they are strong. But a pro wrestler would not be able to hold a chimpanzee... 

The New York Supreme Court has rejected a claim by an advocacy group that two chimpanzees held in captivity should be treated like legal persons and granted the right of habeas corpus – relief from unlawful imprisonment. The Nonhuman Rights Project and its president, Steven Wise, sought habeas corpus relief for Tommy and Kiko, two chimpanzees held in cages by private owners in upstate New York,... 

Studying footage of chimpanzees from Uganda between 2007 and 2009, scientists have arrived at translations for 66 gestures used between the apes as means of communication. Previous research had revealed that the animals use gestures to communicate. The authors from the University of St Andrews in Scotland said the messages ranged from “simple requests associated with just a few gestures to broader...