Apes are a group of primates that includes gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos, gibbons, and humans. ¹⁾

Gorillas are the largest of the apes and can weigh up to 400 pounds. ²⁾

Chimpanzees are one of the closest living relatives to humans, sharing over 98% of our DNA. ³⁾

Orangutans are known for their intelligence and use of tools, such as sticks to extract insects from tree bark. ⁴⁾

Bonobos are sometimes called “pygmy chimpanzees” and are known for their social behavior and sexual activity. ⁵⁾

Gibbons are the smallest of the apes and are known for their acrobatic abilities. ⁶⁾

The first apes evolved around 20 million years ago. ⁷⁾

Apes are found in Africa and Asia. ⁸⁾

Humans are the only apes that are not native to Africa. ⁹⁾

The common chimpanzee is found in central and western Africa. ¹⁰⁾

The mountain gorilla is a critically endangered subspecies of gorillas found in the Virunga Mountains of central Africa. ¹¹⁾

The Bornean orangutan is found only on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. ¹²⁾

The western lowland gorilla is the most numerous of the gorilla subspecies. ¹³⁾

Gibbons are found in the forests of Southeast Asia. ¹⁴⁾

The population of many ape species is declining due to habitat loss, hunting, and disease. ¹⁵⁾