Bonobos and chimpanzees are similar in many ways. Both eat fruit as the largest part of their diet. Both spend a lot of time high in the rainforest canopy but come down to the ground to travel and forage. Both are “knuckle walkers,” or walk on all fours, when on the ground, but both will sometimes walk on only their hind legs for short distances. Both use play time when they are young to build up their physical strength and agility and spend lots of time with their mothers to learn about life in the forest. Both have also been seen using tools, such as leaves to sponge up water from trees.

However, there are many ways in which chimpanzees and bonobos are quite different. Chimpanzee groups are led by males and tend to be more competitive and aggressive. Chimpanzees will make war on other groups that try to enter their territory and will sometimes try to take over another group’s territory. In bonobo communities, females rule! Adult females tend to have very strong bonds, and they hold the highest ranking positions. The sons of female leaders are the highest ranking males. Bonobos tend to be very peaceful. They will groom one another, mate and share food to keep things friendly.